City eyes James Elliott Park as community hangout for elders

City parks officials are applying to Ontario's Ministry of Seniors and Accessibility for funding to create a community hub for active older adults at James Elliott Park on Rossmore Road.

"We're really trying to create a hub for our older adults," Virginia McLeod, the city's manager of recreation and culture, told a Tuesday meeting of the parks and recreation advisory committee.

The multigenerational Elliott sports complex currently offers facilities for soccer, slo-pitch and bocce.

As SooToday reported two years ago, the city's been investigating the possibility of adding eight pickleball courts there.

"Active older adults would like to 'adopt' an outdoor location as their home base and gathering place, which would give them a sense of belonging and inclusivity," said a written report prepared for the committee.

"Older adults identified Elliott Park as an underutilized city facility with the potential to meet their growing physical activity and social needs on a daily basis, by providing an accessible, free, outdoor gathering place."

Improvements the city hopes to make to the park:

• renovate washrooms to make them accessible
• add an accessible outdoor water fountain/ water-filling station
• asphalt part of the parking lot area to create Sault Ste. Marie's only exclusive, fenced outdoor pickleball courts that could be used for free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis
• provide signage including sport play options and regulations

In other news, City Council agreed this week to spend $35,000 to create safe, maintained winter walking trails at Elliott Park and Strathclair Park.

The trails, requested by Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Shoemaker, will complement similar trails already offered at Clergue Park and Bellevue Park.

Shoemaker asked that the new trails be built this winter on a one-time basis.

"Many Sault Ste. Marie residents travel to warmer climates during the winter months in order to escape the cold weather and to be able to maintain a healthy, active outdoor lifestyle," the councillor said.

"Travel restrictions on border crossings and requirements to quarantine on return to Canada have resulted in many snowbirds’ travel plans being disrupted this coming winter."

Shoemaker said the city needs to provide "exceptional services in these exceptional times."