Outdoor Recreation
My wife, 2 young children and myself moved out to Milton to be closer to outdoor recreation opportunities. Our town is in a unique position within the GTA to be tapping into this unrealized potential with the proximity to the Escarpment (several Conservation Halton Parks within the Town's Borders) and other town assets such as the Velodrome that encourage outdoor recreation.
Outdoor recreation is different than Parks and Recreation.
The activities that make up outdoor recreation are hunting, fishing, camping, off roading, motor cycling, snow sports, water sports, trail sports and wildlife viewing. According to the Canadian Outdoor Recreation Trade Association the "industry is conservatively estimated to produce $24.6 billion in economic activity for Canada each year, generating an estimated 472,713 direct jobs, $7.1 billion in taxes and $52.1 billion in total revenues." The town can tap into this potential, speaking as an active member of this community (Outdoor Rec,) a lot of our family decisions (travel, where we spend time) also drive where we spend our money (in towns, businesses, locations) in pursuit of these activities.
I hope the Milton Master Plan- Chooses the Outdoors when considering new land use planning and unlocks Milton's hidden in plain site potential.