b – Active Recreational Facilities

Promoting Active & Healthier Lifestyles
 

Recreation Office Has New Location

The New Minas Recreation Department Office is now located full-time at beautiful Lockhart & Ryan Memorial Park. Office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The office now has two numbers for your convenience 681-6577 or 681-6041.

You’ll notice improvements to the recreation office as of late including two new computers, wireless connectivity, more furniture and equipment, etc.
  

PARKS

Children in New Minas to enjoy Playground Activities, Games and Events this Summer

New Minas Playground Fun Program Flyer (Downloadable for Your Convenience)

Playground July and August Plans (Downloadable for Your Convenience)

Playground Press Release (Downloadable for Your Convenience)

Playground Day Schedule (Downloadable for Your Convenience)

Playground Calendar (Downloadable for Your Convenience)

Click on an image for a larger view.

The New Minas Recreation Department is very pleased to announce a Playground Coordinator who will plan, develop, organize, promote, implement and evaluate children's activities, games and events in New Minas area Parks from July 2nd to August 31, 2007.

Local Parks (Lonnie Milne, Meadow Terrace and Golfview) will have scheduled activities during certain times and days of the week. A complete schedule will be available on the website, promoted through local schools and flyers distributed in local sub-divisions housing their respective park in the near future.

For further information, please contact Playground Coordinator Cleo Tetrault @ 681-6577. 

LOCKHART & RYAN MEMORIAL PARK  Begins Spring / Summer Hours

The New Minas Recreation Department wishes to advise residents that the Lockhart & Ryan Memorial Park will begin Spring / Summer Hours immediately.

The Park will now be open 24 hours daily for your convenience. Washrooms facilities are open.

The park gates will be open at all times.

Click on an image for a larger view.

 

 

Lonnie Milne Memorial Park Outdoor Rink

Now that mother nature has grabbed our attention and finally cooperating, the New Minas Recreation Department's outdoor rink at Lonnie Milne Memorial Park is open to residents, visitors and tourists.

Participants who have been caught on the ice playing hockey or skating have been awarded with a "Take The Roof Off Winter" red toque if they did not have a toque on at the time.

The Outdoor Rink and the Park will play host to a "Take The Roof Off Winter" theme day on Sunday, February 25, 2007 during the Annual New Minas "Get Active" Winter Carnival scheduled for February 23-25, 2007.

Activities will include an outdoor skating party, tobaggoning, and a barbeque from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. All residents, visitors and tourists are more than welcome to come and participate. All Participants will receive a "Take The Roof Off Winter" Toque for participating, while supplies last.

The New Minas Recreation Department has started an outdoor rink at Lonnie Milne Memorial Park.

Build Your Own Outdoor Rink Manual

The Department is now looking to residents to become involved in maintaining it. If you are interested in volunteering by scraping and watering the rink during the winter months, please give the New Minas Recreation Department a call @ 681-6577.

Skating Hours: For the convenience of all residents to enjoy outdoor physical activity at the outdoor rink, please be advised of the following skating and hockey times.

Monday to Friday
3:00 - 6:00 pm SKATING ONLY
6:00 pm and beyond Hockey

Saturday & Sunday
12:00 noon to 5:00 pm SKATING ONLY

Your full cooperation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and have fun!

 

Click on an image for a larger view.

 

The community park for children in the heart of the residential area is located on Milne Avenue between George Street and Minas Crescent. New Minas Recreation Director Vince Forrestall points out that it will be a pilot project to learn from its successes and mistakes this season to hopefully branch out to other areas in the community next season and following years.

Staff attended an Outdoor Rink Building Session in Annapolis Royal on November 9 led by Bill Cruickshank of the Recreation Facilities Association of Nova Scotia who revealed the latest tips & techniques of outdoor building.

Vince points out, "This is a great opportunity for outdoor recreation in the community and a chance to increase healthier living and physically active lifestyles for families in the community".

"Milne Park was chosen because of its location and it has a solid base, so it was a good fit to start for sure".

Forrestall stressed, "The success of the rink will depend a lot on the weather of course, but our Department is committed to the project and if the weather cooperates we hope to have a successful project with lots of usage and participation from our residents with growth in the future."

Ice Dreams

For lots of information on ice skating and how to build your own outdoor rink, visit www.icedreams.ca.

Ice Dreams is a national program that encourages and supports the development and use of new and existing outdoor rinks in Canada. It provides opportunities for people of all ages to get active in the outdoors during winter by playing hockey or other games on ice surfaces, such as frozen ponds and waterways, or backyard, neighbourhood and community rinks.

MEADOW TERRACE PARK
Located in Meadow Terrace Subdivision and is a community park for children.
(Click image for a larger view)

  

Click on an image for a larger view.

JONES SUBDIVISION PARK
Located on the west end of Milne Avenue and hosts playground equipment and a green area for play.

Click on an image for a larger view.

DAN WATTERS MEMORIAL PARK (GOLFVIEW PARK)
Located at the east end of Golfview Subdivision. This 2-acre park has playground equipment and a basketball hoop.

Click on an image for a larger view.

RAVINE PARK
This park is a 12-acre natural state park located adjacent to the New Minas Elementary School with entrances on Jones Road and Lockhart Drive.

FOUNDING FATHER'S PARK
This new passive recreation park at the extreme west end of the village overlooks the Cornwallis River. This park was named for the three original New Minas Village Commissioners, Ken Barron, William Lockhart, and Willie Smith.

FOREST HILL PLAYGROUND
This facility is the newest acquisition in playgrounds located in the Village and is scheduled for development at a later date.  
 
LOCKHART AND RYAN MEMORIAL PARK

New Minas is known as the "Soccer Capital of Atlantic Canada", boasting arguably the nicest soccer venues in the Annapolis Valley. Annually, the village hosts the New Minas Invitational Soccer Tournament in August, where in the past as many as 210 teams have participated from all over Atlantic Canada.

The 3-day tournament is now a festival of sorts, known as 'New Minas Days' during which there are other non-sporting events, including a fireworks show. The village has also played host to the Senior Canadian Mens Soccer Championships (1996) during which many renovations were done to the soccer facilities, resulting in the superior venue that it is today.
 

Background

The most prominent asset of the park system for the Village of New Minas is Lockhart and Ryan Memorial Park. It is the "flagship" of the community and neighborhood park system developed within the Park.

The Park was developed with a keen awareness for the preservation of natural green areas within the urban environment and the need for these green spaces to supply the recreation and leisure needs of Village residents.

The history of the Park is one of progress in facility development and administrative organization. The Park, originally 27 acres in size, was administered through the New Minas Recreation Association, a volunteer non-profit organization who were responsible for the development and organization of recreation programs and facilities within the Village.

The Association was responsible for the development of the Park since the late 1970's. The Park consisted of two ball fields, children's play building with washrooms, picnic area playground, canteen and parking.

In 1984, during a public meeting, approval was given to hire a full-time Recreation Director and create the present Recreation Department.

Upon transfer of duties from the Association to the Recreation Director, development in both programs and facilities continued. Starting in 1985, lights were installed on the Miller Diamond, dugouts were built, fencing added, roadways paved and new playground equipment and picnic areas were added.

In 1987, the Director's office was moved from the Civic Centre to the Children's Centre building, which was upgraded to include a reception area, offices and storage and washroom facilities.

In 1988, the Province of Nova Scotia, after a request was made by the Village and supported by the Kings County District School Board, granted an 18-acre section of land at the rear of the Evangeline Middle School (E.M.S). This enlarged the Park from 27 acres to 45 acres.

In 1989, a maintenance building was constructed as well as two tennis courts. In late 1989, the Advisory Committee recognized the need to organize the procedure for the development of the new 45-acre park followed by the Master Plan Process culminating in the development of a master plan.

Today, the Park houses 3 soccer fields: Lockhart Ryan's #1, 2 (lights) and 3, Beach Volleyball Courts (3), Miller Ball Field, mini-soccer pitch, maintenance building, tennis courts, basketball court, playground and picnic areas, Recreation Department Office, Trail system, clubhouse, upper ball field, washroom facilities, ample parking space, etc.

The Park includes year round seasonal maintenance and signage.

Activities that take place in the Park year round include: walking, jogging, trail hiking, cross-country skiing, track & field meets, soccer, New Minas Soccer Association, New Minas Ball Association, East Kings Soccer Association, snow shoeing, Tennis, basketball, ball hockey, cyclo-cross biking, New Minas Celebration Days, New Minas Invitational Soccer Tournament (22 years), Annual Winter Carnival, Canada Day Celebrations, Fireworks, outdoor events, Nova Scotia outdoor leadership courses, first aid courses, day camps, water slides, group picnics, picnic areas, playground use, outdoor rink, beach volleyball, group fundraising events, school use by Horton High School, Evangeline Middle School, New Minas Elementary School, children's programs, family activities and events, free play areas, etc.

Click on an image to see a larger view.
Tennis Courts	Soccer Fields	Two Soccer Fields (one with lights)	Park Picnic Area
Soccer Fields	Looking Over Park	Miller Ball Field	Park Playground Area
3 Beach Volleyball Courts	Beach Volleyball Courts	Basketball Courts	Little League Ball Field
Those interested in booking one of our facilities may call 902-681-6972 for more information.

Rotary Club of New Minas Sunrise

SMALL VILLAGE. RECREATION PLUS - "WORKING TO MAKE LIFE FUN"
The Soccer Capital of Atlantic Canada / The Shopping Centre of the Valley
- HOME OF THE NEW MINAS SPORT DEVELOPMENT ACADEMIES