The first draft of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan was presented to Council on April 10, and residents can now watch the presentation on our YouTube channel. See the project timeline below to access the Master Plan and share your comments to help shape Champlain Township’s parks and recreation spaces.
The Township of Champlain is creating a Parks and Recreation Master Plan to help shape the future of parks, open spaces and recreation facilities.
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Project Purpose
The purpose of this Parks and Recreation Master Plan is to provide the Township of Champlain with a comprehensive, forward-looking guide for managing and enhancing its public recreational parks, programs, and facilities. This plan seeks to address the changing needs of residents and visitors while aligning with the township’s broader goals for community well-being, sustainability, and inclusivity. By integrating direction from existing municipal plans and input from community engagement, the plan offers actionable recommendations to ensure Champlain’s recreational assets remain vibrant, accessible, and relevant through 2040 and beyond.
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 mission of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan is to provide the framework for the design, development, and operations the Township’s recreational facilities and public parks.
It achieves that mission through a commitment to sustainability and to the residents of the Township of reflecting the community’s aspirations, supporting health and wellness, and fostering social connections
Project Timeline
Draft
The draft of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan was presented to Council on April 10.
The development of this plan for Champlain Township followed a structured, four-phase approach. This methodology ensured a comprehensive process while remaining practical and responsive to community needs.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan Draft
Please be advised that the final document will be made available in an accessible format. If you are having any trouble viewing this document, or require a different format, please contact the Parks and Recreation Director, Sydney Collard by by email or telephone at 613-678-3003.
Watch the Presentation Live or On-Demand
Residents can watch the presentation live or rewatch the recordings on our YouTube channel. A link to the recording will be uploaded the day after the meeting.
Have Your Say!
Comments will be accepted from April 14 to April 23.
This is your final opportunity to provide feedback before the approval of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which will shape our community’s priorities through 2040 and beyond. Your input is invaluable in making Champlain Township’s parks and recreational spaces the best they can be.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan Draft SurveySimply click on the link above to share your comments—it takes less than two minutes!
Project Methodology
| Phase 1 - Background Research (Fall 2024) |
| The project reviewed existing data, facility inventories, and demographic trends to evaluate current offerings and identify gaps. A SWOT analysis was conducted to understand the system's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, providing a foundation for strategic planning.
Phase 2: Analysis and |
| Phase 2 - Analysis and Consultation (Fall 2024) |
| Analysis and Consultation centered on stakeholder and community engagement. Internal consultation gathered insights from municipal staff, while public engagement included in-person sessions and an online survey to capture diverse perspectives. Feedback from these consultations helped to assess community needs and emerging trends. |
| Phase 3 - Recommendations (Winter 2025) |
| Recommendations addressed the organizational structure, funding priorities, facility needs, and partnership opportunities. Specific focus was given to key areas like L’Orignal Park and Beach, with phased implementation strategies outlined for short-, medium-, and long-term goals. |
| Phase 4 - Master Plan (Winter-Spring 2025) |
| All findings and strategies were consolidated into a comprehensive and accessible Master Plan. It includes actionable goals, financial strategies, performance indicators, and visual aids. Delivered in both English and French, the plan is AODA-compliant and is presented to Council for approval. |
Public Consultation
| In-Person Sessions |
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In-Person sessions are closed. In-Person Sessions took place on October 16 and 17, 2024. |
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Online Survey |
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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 |
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Indoor facilities provide space for programming and community use. Champlain has two community halls:
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| 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 |
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Some of Champlain's park are equipped with play structures for children of all ages:
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. |
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Beach |
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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 |
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The Township of Champlain manages and operates three outdoor rinks in the municipality, open to the public, free of charge:
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| Splash Pads |
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Splash pads are unsupervised water play areas, free of charge, with showerheads, spray jets and other features. The Township operates 2 splash pads:
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| Tennis & Pickleball Courts |
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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:
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| Sports Field |
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Champlain operates 2 ball field, 2 ball hockey courts and 2 basketball courts in its territory:
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| BMX/Bike/Skatepark |
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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. |
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Boat Ramp |
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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. |
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Ski Trails |
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Champlain Township is pleased to have a community group of volunteers, Ski Vent Clic, who maintain and operate over 15 km of ski trails. |
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