Help us plan future parks, recreation and library services

Join a focus group this fall! 

Do you play in Vaughan’s parks, use our community centres or visit local library branches? These public spaces are essential to maintaining the high quality of life in Vaughan, and, as our community continues to grow, so does the demand for new offerings. 

The City of Vaughan and Vaughan Public Libraries are preparing a Community Spaces Plan to identify current and future priorities for parks, recreation and library facilities for the next five to 25 years – and you can have a say! 

We’re hosting an online series of seven Deep Dive Focus Groups with select stakeholders this November and December to help answer the following questions:

• What's working well in our libraries, parks and recreation facilities?
• What’s important to you when it comes to these public services? 
• What would entice you to use these facilities more?
• Are there any barriers to access these facilities and services?

Virtual sessions will be facilitated in small groups and organized per area of interest. So pick the one that best suits you and register by Friday, Nov. 22! Here is the schedule:

• For older adults: Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• For youth: Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• For people with disabilities: Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
• For event organizations: Wednesday, Nov. 27 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 
• For organizations serving youth: Wednesday, Nov. 27 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 
• For equity-deserving groups: Thursday, Nov. 28 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
• For sports organizations: Monday, Dec. 2 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Learn more and register at vaughan.ca/CommunitySpaces.

These sessions come following telephone and online surveys, and community pop-up events held earlier this fall. Thank you to everyone who participated in those engagement opportunities. 

More about the Community Spaces Plan

Once complete, this plan will provide strategies and recommendations for the next five years and a long-range outlook for parks, recreation and library facilities in the next 10 to 25 years by:

• assessing progress made since the 2018 Active Together Master Plan.
• reviewing current needs and trends for indoor and outdoor facilities and libraries. 
• examining funding, provision standards, maintenance cycles and levels of service for existing and future facilities.
• focusing on providing the most value to residents, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of safe, accessible and community-responsive parks and facilities.

It’s vital that Vaughan’s park and open space amenities, recreation programs and facilities, and library services reflect the community’s needs. That’s why the City is seeking your perspectives and input to shape this long-term plan. There will be several opportunities for the community to get involved at every stage of this project before a final report is presented for Council’s consideration in June 2025. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/CommunitySpaces.

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