infrastructure. In Hallville, the township is developing a large multi-use park with a splash pad, outdoor rink, walking trails, pickleball and basketball courts, and outdoor exercise equipment. The project, estimated at just under $3 million, is designed for all ages. “It’s going to be multi-age, multi-use, multifunctional,” Mayor Fraser says. “A place for fresh air, recreation, and community.” Smaller neighbourhood parks are also a priority.The new Marilyn Vriend Memorial Park in Winchester, dedicated in honour of a local developer’s late wife, is a testimony to community collaboration and the township’s commitment to green space. KEEPING THE MOMENTUM FLOWING For the next 18–24 months, Mayor Fraser’s number one focus is crystal clear: securing provincial funding to expand North Dundas’s water infrastructure. Without this critical investment, the township’s ambitious growth plans—spanning residential, commercial, and industrial development—cannot fully move forward. The need is both practical and urgent. “If a community is not able to grow, it just goes backwards,” he says. “As expenses rise, we need to increase our tax base to provide quality services.The water infrastructure challenge is becoming more urgent. We’re ready to grow, the developers are ready, and the province has said it wants growth. Now we need the support to make it happen.” The stakes go far beyond new homes. Expanded water capacity would unlock hundreds of housing units already in the planning pipeline, accommodate key employers like Lactalis Canada, and support the growing healthcare hub anchored by the Winchester District Memorial Hospital and the new long-term care facility. It would also allow North Dundas to attract additional industries and expand recreational and public amenities without overburdening existing ratepayers. Mayor Fraser stresses that the township’s advocacy isn’t about asking for luxuries, it’s about ensuring the basic infrastructure is in place to keep the community sustainable. “If we can’t expand our water systems, “My wife and I have been to Mountain Orchards, and I tell people, it’s like Wonderland in Mountain Village,” Mayor Fraser says. “The proximity to Ottawa makes it an easy day trip for families.” BUILDING SPACES FOR PLAY AND CONNECTION Recreation opportunities are expanding alongside 8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09
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