BRENDA O’FARRELL
The 1019 Report

A total of 232 Hudson residents last month offered their two cents worth on how the town should improve its parks, indicating their preferences about what they would like to see added to the outdoor spaces, and including whether its main baseball diamond in the centre of the village should be relocated.

The input was solicited through an online survey, after the town hosted a public meeting that outlined options for its Parks and Green Spaces Master Plan 2025-2035. A range of possibilities were outlined to upgrade Hudson’s three main municipal parks and enhance its network of walking trails and natural parks.

The presentation was based on two main themes: to build and enhance the natural settings and respond to the recreational needs of diverse age groups.

For the parks, it presented a range of options, including building children’s splash pads to skate parks, ball hockey surfaces to pickleball courts. But the main question posed was where would residents like to see all these features located — at Thompson, Benson or St. Thomas parks.

The proposal floats the idea of creating a sports hub, that would bring a number of sports fields together. But the question to be determined is whether that should be centred at Benson Park, which already has a ball field. Or, move the ball field to Thompson Park in the west end of town.

The consultation also solicited feedback on how to enhance the town’s network of walking trails and other nature parks, including Jack Layton Park along the waterfront.

Consultants are now tabulating the input from residents. The input will serve to guide the final draft of the town’s parks plan, which council aims to adopt next month.

“What I would like to see come out of this is a committee for recreation,” said Hudson Mayor Chloe Hutchison at the public consultation.

Specific timelines, along with costs to implement the plan will still have to be determined.