The City's parks, outdoor recreation, and natural areas offer residents opportunities for leisure and physical activity. Through parks, green spaces, and recreational areas, residents and visitors can engage in outdoor activities, sports, and relaxation. These services contribute to the overall well-being and livability of Barrie, enhancing residents' quality of life.
Parks, outdoor recreation, & natural areas infrastructure includes:
- Active recreation: Tennis, basketball & pickleball courts and beach volleyball, baseball diamonds, softball diamonds & soccer fields, horseshoe pits, rugby & football fields, playgrounds & skate parks, splash pads, and disc golf
- Park vehicular and pedestrian network: OSIM bridges, non-OSIM bridges, stairs, pathways, trails, plaza and park parking lots
- Other parks & recreation assets: Park structures, fencing, utility lines, electric service panels, park furniture, and shoreline protection
- Maintained parkland: Maintained turf, gores, gardens and beach
- Natural areas: Urban forest, wetlands, ponds and open space
Overall, the parks, outdoor recreation, & natural asset asset replacement value is approximately $313M and assets are in good condition.
Asset Management Plan Key Findings
Full information about the City's management of parks, outdoor recreation, & natural assets is contained on pages 78–96 of the 2025 Corporate Asset Management Plan.
The 2025 Corporate Asset Management Plan includes three key findings:
- There is an estimated $1.0 million per year investment gap for capital renewal to maintain parks & outdoor recreation assets in a state of good repair.
- There is a significant investment gap related to new baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and overall parkland to serve the City’s growing population. The Parks Strategic Plan will update service levels and identify the programming and upgrade needed to address this gap.
- Additional resources are needed for inspection and maintenance of park assets, as well as invasive species management for natural areas.
