Arena Action Plan

A report (Report OPS-2025-047 - Arena Action Plan [pgs. 15-50]) was presented by the Manager of Parks, Recreation and Facilities to General/Finance Committee on September 10, 2025.

This report provided background details and information surrounding the Port Carling and Bala arenas to assist Committee in endorsing a preferred shortlist of options prior to further financial analysis and community engagement. Committee received the 'Muskoka Lakes Arenas Planning for the Future' document and chose to proceed with endorsement of both Options 2.A. - renovating one arena and repurposing the other; and Option 1.A. - renovating both arenas, to be brought back for further consideration.

Next Steps

Staff are underway in preparing a financial strategy and implementation plan for each option for further consideration by Committee. This information is expected to be presented to General/Finance Committee on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.

Meeting details and agendas can be found on the Muskoka Lakes Government Portal, to be available by Dec. 5, 2025.

The Arena Feasibility Study was the first step in a lengthy process. It is a document that will provide Council and members of the community the required information to begin moving toward a long-term plan for recreation facilities in the Township. This study includes background information (usage data, etc.), a condition analysis of the current buildings (costs to fix), input from the community on amenities they would like to see, and a range of some possible options to consider. These are by no means the final set options for a new facility(s), however, they do provide an understanding/ideas on site fit possibilities, related construction costs, etc.

The next step in the process is a Capital Service Level Review. Through this process, Council will determine the appropriate levels of service to be provided by the municipality and the physical assets necessary to achieve those levels of service. In simple terms, determine how many of everything we need (arenas, community centres, fire halls, parks, etc.) and where we want them to be located. These decisions will be based on the data from previous completed studies such as the Arena Feasibility Study, Fire Location Study, Park and Recreation Master Plan, etc. This will be where Council will move towards a decision on how many arenas, location and whether to rehabilitate, construct new, etc. I can assure you that during this process there will be more opportunity for community engagement. We anticipate that this will take place during the summer/fall this year.

Upon the conclusion of this review and an identified number of/location of facilities, Council will then dive further into what specific activities/amenities should be included in said facilities. This will be part of any design phases and once again include opportunities to engage with the public and local recreation groups.

On Wednesday April 10, the final report for the Arena Feasibility will be presented to Council. The final report can be found here or by clicking the image below.

On Wednesday March 14, Susan Lennox of Lennox Architects shared an update at the end of phase 3 of the feasibility study with Committee. The presentation is available on the Government Portal, or by clicking the image below.

On Wednesday November 15, Susan Lennox of Lennox Architects shared an update at the end of phase 2 of the feasibility study with Committee. The presentation is available on the Government Portal, or by clicking the image below.

On Wednesday September 13, Susan Lennox of Lennox Architects shared an update at the end of phase 1 of the feasibility study with Committee. The presentation can be found here.

The Project is proposed to be divided into two phases.

Phase One of the feasibility study includes:
• Information gathering and data collection;
• Condition and needs assessment of the two existing facilities;
• Community needs assessment;
• Public consultation;
• Program design; and
• Reporting of findings to the General and Finance Committee of Council.

Phase Two of the project will develop the alternatives conceptually in sufficient detail to examine the impacts on the community and to identify the preferred alternative.

Phase Two will include:
• Identification and development of alternatives;
• Public consultation;
• Alternative evaluation and identification of the preferred alternative; and
• Reporting of findings to the General and Finance Committee of Council.

Following completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2, the consultant will develop and implementation strategy, and prepare a presentation with a final report to Council.

Through this process, we will identify the range of alternatives with the potential to be able to satisfy the current and projected needs of the community for the term of the assessment. At a minimum the following alternatives should be considered:

1. Refurbish one or both the existing facilities sufficiently to allow them to continue to operate under its existing mandate for the term of the study.
2. Refurbish/expand one of the existing facilities sufficiently to allow it to continue to operate under its existing mandate for the term of the study and repurpose the other facility to satisfy any other unmet needs.
3. Construct a new facility on an existing or new site to meet some or all of the community needs. Adaptive reuse of the existing facilities may be considered in conjunction with this alternative.
4. Other alternatives as the consultant may deem to be viable and worthy of further consideration.

In 2022, Council adopted the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. One of the first steps in implementation of the plan is executing an arena feasibility study to determine the best course of action for arena facilities in the municipality.