Parks and Recreation Master Plan

Parks and Recreation Master Plan

The Township of Champlain is creating a Parks and Recreation Master Plan to help shape the future of parks, open spaces and recreation facilities.

On this Page

  1. Project Purpose
  2. Project Timeline
  3. Public Consultation
  4. Facility Types

Project Purpose

The Township of Champlain is undertaking an important initiative to develop a Parks and Recreation Master Plan, aiming to create a comprehensive vision for the future management of public spaces. This project seeks to integrate recommendations from existing Township documents and address the recreational needs of both residents and non-residents. The final Master Plan will be used as a policy and planning document to assist in determining parks and recreation requirements for the Township and will aid in the strategic management of parks and recreation services until at least 2040.

This project is an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to Champlain Township’s future, ensuring its parks and recreation facilities remain vibrant and welcoming for generations to come.

What is the Parks and Recreation Master Plan?

The Master Plan will guide the future development and management of parks, recreational facilities, programs, and services for the next 10-15 years. We are committed to ensuring that our parks and recreation services reflect the needs and desires of our residents.

Your feedback is crucial in shaping the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. After collecting and reviewing all responses, we will use your input to identify key priorities, areas for improvement, and new opportunities for recreation across the township. The feedback gathered will directly inform decisions about future park upgrades, recreational programming, and new facilities, ensuring the Master Plan reflects what matters most to you and your community.


Project Timeline

StepsTimeline
In-Person Public Consultation October 16-17
Online Public Survey October 16 to October 30
Draft Master Plan presented to Council November
Final Master Plan received December
Final Master Plan Published on Website December

 

Public Consultation

Whether you’re a frequent user of our parks or just looking for new ways to stay active, we want to hear from you! This is your opportunity to share what’s most important to you when it comes to recreation in our community.

In-Person Sessions
  • October 16, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Vankleek Hill Community Hall, 36 Mill Street. 
  • October 17, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Prescott-Russell Council Chambers, 59 Court Street in L’Orignal.

These consultations will follow a unique format. Rather than a typical seated group discussion, the event will feature three booths:

  • Main Parks (Mill Street Park and L'Orignal Park, including the beach and the boat ramp)
  • Other Parks
  • Facilities (Vankleek Hill Community Centre, green spaces, marina, tennis courts, trails, etc.)

Residents can visit the booths that interest them most, engage directly with representatives from the Cultural Spaces consulting firm, and share their thoughts. Participants are welcome to arrive at any time during the session and do not need to stay for the entire duration.

Online Survey

Survey is now closed. An online survey was available from October 16 to October 30. It gave all residents the opportunity to share their thoughts.  


Facility Types

The Township of Champlain oversees 9 parks, recreational facilities, or green spaces with a variety of recreational options:

  • Mill Street Park
  • L'Orignal Park
  • Miner Park
  • Sacha's Park
  • Woodhills Park
  • Laurier Pilon Park
  • Desjardins-Laurentian Park
  • Town Square Park
Community Halls

Indoor facilities provide space for programming and community use. Champlain has two community halls:

  • Vankleek Hill Community Hall: The Vankleek Hill reception hall is located in the Community Centre on the second floor. It is available year round for meetings, weddings and other social events.
  • Chalet Abri: This hall is located in L'Orignal Park and will accommodate up to 85 people. There is a kitchen on-site for all your event needs
 Arena
The Vankleek Hill Arena offers ice time for numerous activities including hockey, broomball, skating lessons and free skating periods. This facility is also available during summer for corporate events, conventions, trade shows, receptions and parties.
Playgrounds and Swings

Some of Champlain's park are equipped with play structures for children of all ages:

  • Mill Street Park
  • Miner Park
  • Sacha's Park
  • Laurier Pilon Park
  • Desjardins-Laurentian
  • L'Orignal Park (swings only)
  • Woodhills Park (swings only)

Sacha's Park offers accessible playground equipment, safe and spongy surfacing adapted to mobility, ramping and transfer systems, adaptive swings, splash pad, sensory and interactive stations, and much more.

Beach

In the heart of the village of L'Orignal, at 772 Front Street West, on the shores of the Ottawa River, L'Orignal Beach is a quaint and ideal place to picnic and enjoy a beautiful sunny day. 

 Outdoor Skating Rinks

 The Township of Champlain manages and operates three outdoor rinks in the municipality, open to the public, free of charge:

  • Mill Street Park
  • L'Orignal Park
  • Miner Park
 Splash Pads

Splash pads are unsupervised water play areas, free of charge, with showerheads, spray jets and other features. The Township operates 2 splash pads:

  • Mill Street Park
  • Sacha's Park
Tennis & Pickleball Courts

Champlain has 4 outdoor courts that are open from April to October, free of charge, and used on a first come first served basis. The 4 courts are painted and lined for tennis and pickleball:

  • L'Orignal Park
  • Premise of Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute
 Sports Field

 Champlain operates 2 ball field, 2 ball hockey courts and 2 basketball courts in its territory:

  • Mill Street Park (ball hockey and baseball)
  • L'Orignal Park (basketball and baseball)
  • Woodhills Park (basketball and ball hockey)
BMX/Bike/Skatepark

The skatepark, located in L'Orignal Park, features key elements that reflect different styles of stunt biking and skateboarding– street skateboarding,  freestyle, stunts and downhill.

Boat Ramp

Located at L'Orignal Municipal Park, the boat launch allows boaters to get their small boats into the water.  There is no charge for lauching.

Ski Trails

Champlain Township is pleased to have a community group of volunteers, Ski Vent Clic, who maintain and operate over 15 km of ski trails.

Contact Us