With an eye to the future of the city's parks and recreation, a one of the 50 vital community conversations took place Thursday evening at the Kinsmen Sportsplex.

Scott Osmachenko with the city led the people to discuss what the word community means to them, and brought up questions about what might be considered emerging issues in the community.

“The idea was to basically have a conversation with the community to find out what they feel is important about the community, what they feel is right with the community and what are some of the priorities we can look at in addressing future plans,” said Osmachenko.

He said the questions are open and looking primarily for as much input as possible.

Sara Wiens, also a member of the city's youth advisory committee, attended the meeting with a wishlist of things she’d like to see.

“I think more youth involvement in the city and different things for us to do to stay involved,” said Wiens. “Stay involved with the community, not only within recreational sports as well but the arts as well. I also think we need updated buildings for these things to happen. And opportunity for special needs kids to be involved as well.”

Those who attended will be part of a report that will be released by the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation later this year.

While there’s no immediate action that will be taken from the community input from the meeting, it may end up giving future direction for the department.

“That’s kind of the goal,” Osmachenko said. “If there’s an emphasis on active living, or an emphasis on infrastructure, or certain parks in the area, if there’s an emphasis on youth programs or senior programs, related to that, that’s what we would help toward. Especially when we’re developing some of our capital grants or some of our community grants. And then it also gives us an ability to our community insights into operating budgets as well.”

Anyone who was there who left their email address will have that final report sent to them, he said.