Since the 1960s, the Dorian Parker Centre has been used for social functions, meetings, seminars, recreation programs, banquets and family events.
Folks anxious about the future of this centre are urged to come to a meeting this Thursday night to hear results of a consultation on future options for the facility.
The options have been developed by city staff, based on public feedback received at a community consultation in November 2015, and will be presented to city council in June.
City Culture Manager Onalee Groves says the suggestions that came in over the past year and change have been wide-ranging, “from renovating the current facility and making it into a warm up/cool down centre for runners and skiers, to just installing washrooms that have outside access.”
Groves also tells Barrie Today folks were concerned with finding fresh uses for the centre rather than tearing the facility down. “(They wanted to) keep it in a similar fashion – so fitting within its current footprint and in context of the park.”
Parker was a fixture on city council from the mid-1960s until her retirement in 1994, serving two terms as mayor in the 1970s. One of her most noted accomplishments in office was the acquisition of 80 acres of land being sold by the Barrie Country Club to create Sunnidale Park, which remains Barrie's largest municipal park. The clubhouse was renamed in her honour in 2001.
“County Chordsmen and other groups that currently use the facility will be in attendance on Thursday, as well as the Sunnidale area neighbours,” says Groves.
Councillors, when they get their hands on the issue of the centre’s future in June, may opt to defer a decision for a while, Groves stresses, “so we cannot possibly speculate on when any changes will occur – if any.”
Groves does speculate, however, that the spirit of Dorian Parker, who passed in 2007, will be very much in evidence at Thursday night’s meeting.
“(She) would love that the community really appreciates the facility in her name and that they want to keep it in their neighbourhood.”
The information session is being held Dorian Parker Centre, 227 Sunnidale Road, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m on Thursday, April 27.
Anyone unable to attend can request a copy of the presentation by emailing [email protected] or by calling 705-739-4299.
