The City of Belleville is using a year-long campaign to highlight the vital role parks and recreation plays in a healthy and connected community.
Director of Community Services Kari Lambe says the Community Connection campaign aligns with an initiative from Parks and Recreation Ontario called Beyond the Boundaries – a series of reports underscoring the untold value of parks and recreation infrastructure across Ontario.
Lambe says recreation is more than just “nice to have” infrastructure.
“What we’re trying to do through this campaign is really capitalize on some of the efforts that Parks and Recreation has done and really try to show the community how much we have to offer in Belleville and how we’re here to support the community. And we’re gonna come out with lots of different interesting things about what we do in the community.”
Recreation is proven to reduce healthcare costs, combat loneliness and strengthen community bonds.
“People think it’s about just physical health, it’s also about, you know, mental health as well. We hear about that so much today. And just getting outside for some fresh air can really do somebody so much good. And there’s so much that we have and that we offer and, you know, it doesn’t cost anything.”
Lambe adds another free amenity that many people benefit from is the indoor track at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre.
The 50-Plus Centre also offers dozens of social activities every year for an annual fee of about $10.
“Those types of things, we see so many of our seniors experiencing social isolation. And, you know, we want them to be able to get out of their home and meet other people and be able to have camaraderie with each other and be able to experience different things and different experiences with new people.”
The campaign launches in January.
“We’re gonna collect data about what people want to see in recreation in Belleville and what we can do better and/or what we’re gonna mean to the community.”
Lambe says as the year progresses they will also offer education on their partnership with emergency response, seniors’ and outdoor activities, what the community services department’s role is and employment opportunities.
They’ll also use the feedback to review their programming to enhance or add to the experiences available.
Learn More
Download the Parks and Recreation Ontario “Beyond the Boundaries” reports:
Download the Parks and Recreation Ontario “Beyond the Boundaries” reports:
- Part I: Infrastructure for Community Wellness
Beyond the Boundaries: The Untold Value of Parks and Recreation Infrastructure -
Part II: Infrastructure for Community Resilience
Stay up to date on the campaign by following the City of Belleville’s social media feeds (Facebook, X) or visiting their website at Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre.
