The chair of the Huntsville Lake of Bays Sports Council is urging sport club officials to express their feelings of the future of recreation in the town.  

“Currently, the community master plan group has had no sport clubs address the shortcomings of recreational infrastructure and programs,” said John Cowan. “The Town of Huntsville, Township of Lake of Bays, Township of Muskoka Lakes and Perry and Seguin Township citizens are dependent on the Huntsville community sports programs and infrastructure. These communities have been growing steadily over the past 10 years and the Huntsville’s sports programs have been feeling the burden of the growth.”

Cowan was referring to the community master plan that will supersede the town’s existing strategic plan, which was established in 2002. It is expected to be completed by the end of February and will help chart the direction for the municipality for the next three to five years, including any new projects and initiatives.

In a press release via e-mail to various sports groups and town officials, Cowan compared what Huntsville is presently experiencing to a similar situation in Bracebridge over the last decade. He said that the town went through a cycle of 10 years with poor recreation infrastructure, major industries were leaving and heading offshore, and the town barely survived on the tourism economy with migrant workers coming and going.  

“During this time, the Bracebridge Storm Soccer Club assembled a three regulation soccer field complex in addition to the existing three regulation fields at local schools. The town and school boards began to network with Nippissing University and Georgian College. The citizens of Bracebridge got involved and worked with the school boards to improve local education infrastructure with the addition of St. Dominic’s Catholic and Bracebridge Muskoka Lakes Secondary School. The citizens and the town decided to build a new multi-sports complex to address the shortcomings of infrastructure. The cultural recreational group also had a new venue with the addition of a new theatre. The pride of Bracebridge can be seen and it is not surprising to see the new young families, businesses and retirees looking to relocate based on the opportunities presented in Bracebridge.”

He added that Huntsville is now taking its turn deeply entrenched in turmoil similar to Bracebridge’s plight years ago.  

“We enjoyed the prosperity of the last 10 years as many of our major resorts would bring visitors and conferences to our community. Unfortunately, over the course of the past five years, forestry has taken a significant toll on local employment, automotive manufacturing has gone offshore and as well new innovative technologies are being sent offshore for production. Our community is fortunate to have the recreational tourism and natural environment to bring visitors to maintain service jobs, but this alone will not sustain a quality of life for all of its citizens with the tide of seasonal workers.”

He said that Huntsville and Lake of Bays residents – along with those from surrounding communities who rely on the town’s sports infrastructure – have two options.

“The first option is to remain on course by sitting in the backseat and complain; or the second option, as our elected officials are begging you, to do is to jump into the driver’s seat. The not-so-rosy picture of Huntsville and surroundings will require a culture of change and it is in need of your input, and equally important is the voice from our youth.”  

Cowan urged interested residents to fill out the town’s online blog (www.huntsvilleplan.blogspot.com) and pass along any comments and concerns they may have about the future of sports needs and facilities in north Muskoka.

“Our elected officials have given us an opportunity now it is the expressed intention that they will enact on your suggestions. I encourage you pick up the torch and fill out the online blog and to pass this message on to every club member, athlete and coach,” he said.