Community Services Committee to Review $5M in Proposed Capital Projects for 2026–2030
Owen Sound’s Community Services Committee will review $5 million in funded and $16.8 million in unfunded capital projects on May 21 as part of the City’s five-year planning process.
Owen Sound’s Community Services Committee will review a draft five-year capital plan at its meeting on Wednesday, May 21, including more than $5 million in funded projects and nearly $17 million in currently unfunded needs within parks, recreation, culture, and related infrastructure.
The committee is not making any decisions at this stage. Instead, City staff are seeking feedback on the Community Services portion of the City’s 2026–2030 Multi-year Capital Plan ahead of a full Council review scheduled for June 23.
The multi-year capital plan is reviewed by Council twice a year and provides a long-term look at the City’s major infrastructure investments. Projects can still be amended or re-prioritized before contracts are issued.
Funded Projects by Department
The draft plan includes $5.06 million in funded projects under the Community Services portfolio. By department, the proposed investments are:
Arena Operations: $1.3 million
Parks & Open Spaces: $3.2 million
Tom Thomson Art Gallery: $500,000
River District: No funded projects at this time
A full list of funded capital projects specific to Community Services is available here:
2026–2030 Funded Project List (Community Services)
Detailed capital project sheets outlining timelines, scope, and budget breakdowns are also available: 2026–2030 Capital Detail Sheets
Unfunded Projects
The report also identifies a number of capital projects that are currently unfunded, either due to budget constraints or pending prioritization. These projects have been flagged through facility condition assessments, master plans, and informal planning processes. They include:
Bayshore North Parking Lot Paving (2030): $2.5 million
Cemetery Hazard Tree Removal (2027): $120,000
Tom Thomson Art Gallery – Storage Room Humidity Control (2030): $80,000
Kelso Beach Park Frontage Renewal (2026): $100,000
Kiwanis Soccer Complex Shade Structure and Picnic Pad (2026): $125,000
Kelso Beach Wayfinding Signage (2029): $120,000
J. Irvine Brown Park Playground (2029): $1 million
Ash Tree Removal (2026–2030): $2 million
Skate Park Surface Renewal (2029): $750,000 (this project would result in the permanent closure of the current skate park)
A full summary of unfunded capital projects is included in Attachment 3 of the staff report being presented to Committee.
Following input from standing committees in May, staff will present the full multi-year capital plan to Council on June 23.
At that meeting, Council may amend or approve the plan, which outlines all funded projects over the five-year period. Projects that have not yet been contracted may still be adjusted or removed at future updates.
City-wide, the full draft capital plan for 2026–2030 includes $91 million in funded projects and an additional $34 million in unfunded capital needs across all departments.
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