A recreation consultant says Collingwood will have to make some tough decisions and invest in recreation facilities in the next 10 years.

Jim Morgenstern of dmA Planning and Management Serives delivered the message to councillors Monday night when he presented the leisure services master plan.

He said the town will need a multi-use recreational complex by 2016. The report said this is likely to include an arena, gymnasium and program space.

He said the town will also be looking at the relocation or replacement of the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena and the Collingwood Fitness Centre, known locally as the Contact Centre.

The town's existing municipal indoor pool has likely reached the end of its useful lifespan and additional investment in this facility is not likely to be cost effective," the report read.

"We would not recommend the replacement of the Contact Centre, either at its existing location or as a new replacement facility, particularly if it would preclude the possibility of developing a full service indoor pool as part of a multi-use facility."

Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier said he would like to see council close the centre by the end of the term or even the end of the year.

He said council could sell the property and put the money in reserves for future capital investment.

"That's not a bad start," he said.

The report said Collingwood should do a feasibility study for an indoor facility and look at regional partnerships.

Morgenstern recommended an improved leisure services department. He said the town needs to redefine the role of the leisure services director.

This was as Peter Dunbar was in Memphis, promoting Collingwood's Elvis Festival. The consultant said that was important for the municipality, but not under the leisure services umbrella.

Carrier said he appreciated Morgenstern's candor and said it is council that outlines staff job descriptions.

Counc. Sonny Foley said he would like to see leisure services operate more programs.

He said in other communities, the leisure services department has a wide-range of programming such as bird watching and cross-country skiing.

"Parks and rec department should not be the builders of parks, but the builders of programs that take place in the parks," Foley said.

The plan also calls for five additional outdoor sports fields.

"You will be making some bold decisions today that will pay dividends," Morgenstern said." Many of these are being driven by population growth."

Counc. Ian Chadwick said he would like to see the development of more neighbourhood parks rather than big community parks.

"These are places where kids can get out and play without having to be driven anywhere," he said.
Counc. Mike Edwards, a member of the leisure services committee, said nothing surprised him in the report but says it does give council some direction.

"I think it's something that we need," he said. "This is the tool that we need to put our own plan together."