New developments play a significant role in acquiring and funding parks, public spaces, essential infrastructure and other community amenities that enhance residents' quality of life. The proposed neighbourhood in the draft Courtice Waterfront and Energy Park Secondary Plan is key to making the Courtice Waterfront Park a reality.

Why? Only a small portion of the waterfront is publicly owned—most of the land is in private hands. This means Clarington has no viable mechanism to acquire the proposed minimum 16-hectare (39-acre) waterfront park or to fund the necessary infrastructure without the proposed residential development.

This prestigious waterfront park would significantly increase access to Lake Ontario and attract residents from across Clarington with year-round recreational opportunities.

Visit www.clarington.net/CourticeWaterfront to learn more.

In short, yes! In 2021, Council approved the development of a dog park in north Bowmanville, with the goal of identifying a suitable location. Staff actively explored potential sites; however, as no appropriate municipal lands were available in the area, they presented two alternative options for consideration.

In March 2025, Council passed Resolution C-066-25, directing staff to report back once appropriate land becomes available in north Bowmanville. It is anticipated that new opportunities will arise as the Secondary Plans in this area are completed and development progresses. Staff will report back to Council when a viable site is identified.

Summary

The South Bowmanville Recreation Centre (SBRC) will be a modern sports and fitness destination, expanding recreation access for Clarington’s growing population. A hub for activity and connection, it creates a state-of-the-art space for soccer, basketball, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, skating, swimming, fitness classes, recreation programs, and more—encouraging movement, participation, and community spirit. It addresses service gaps, fosters inclusive programming, and delivers new amenities that elevate athletic development and community engagement.

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Phase 1 is expected to open in 2026 with the following key features:

• The indoor turf dome, including a FIFA-sized field, will be four times larger than the former Bowmanville Indoor Soccer facility, allowing for year-round multi-sport programming and supporting clubs like Darlington Soccer Club and Darby Football Club. Its expanded capacity will strengthen recreational sports opportunities, supporting grassroots programs and community participation while also enabling Clarington to host professional teams, semi-professional leagues, and major tournaments, fostering elite development.

• The dome’s three-lane indoor track provides a safe, accessible space for walking and jogging, two of the most popular recreation activities. It ensures consistent opportunities to stay active, supports dryland training for sports groups, and will be an ideal venue for the Clarington Walks program that residents enjoy.

• The fully accessible gymnasium, featuring two FIBA-sized courts, will be more than twice the size of the Diane Hamre Recreation Complex gym. It will provide space for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, tennis, and more, ensuring high-quality recreation opportunities for residents of all abilities while supporting local community sport organizations.

• The outdoor refrigerated skating trail will be the first in Durham Region and one of the longest in Ontario—making it a landmark community feature. Its modified figure-eight layout will span over 1,000 square metres with a 170-metre length, surpassing Toronto's Barbara Ann Scott Trail and covering more ground than the Bentway Skating Trail. This family-friendly space welcomes all ages and abilities, offering year-round enjoyment. In the winter, its refrigeration system ensures safe, consistent ice, making skating accessible despite fluctuating temperatures. In warmer months, it transforms into a community hub for hosting events, markets, and celebrations.

• The multi-purpose rooms will support day camps, fitness classes, and community programs, providing versatile spaces for structured activities, wellness programs, and social gatherings that promote engagement and lifelong participation.

Phase 2 includes a new Aquatics Centre and more multi-purpose spaces. It will introduce Clarington’s first warm water therapeutic pool alongside a competition-ready lap pool. This aquatic expansion was recommended in the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan (PRCMP), which was approved by Council on October 28, 2024, ensuring the facility aligns with the community's evolving recreation needs.

Dive deeper into the decision-making process by reading through reports shared on the project timeline at www.clarington.net/SouthBowmanvilleRec.

Summary

A skating trail was chosen to offer an inclusive, multi-season space for family-friendly recreation. It responds to strong community demand for outdoor skating, as highlighted in the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan (PRCMP) community survey. The refrigerated trail ensures consistent ice quality and doubles as a warm-weather venue for events and markets. While SBRC won’t have an arena, Clarington is prioritizing future ice development at South Courtice Arena for organized hockey and figure skating.

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As the first skating trail in Durham Region and one of the longest in Ontario, the South Bowmanville Recreation Centre (SBRC) will feature a modified figure-eight layout will span over 1,000 square metres with a 170-metre length, surpassing Toronto’s Barbara Ann Scott Trail and covering more ground than the Bentway Skating Trail—making it a landmark community feature.

Outdoor skating has long been a Canadian tradition, bringing people together in winter. In the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan (PRCMP) community survey, 75 per cent of respondents supported outdoor skating rinks, ranking them 6th out of 41 facility types, reinforcing strong community demand. Clarington’s third outdoor refrigerated skating space will offer a safe, climate-controlled environment for family-friendly skating, ensuring consistent ice quality despite fluctuating winter temperatures.

The SBRC was initially planned to include an arena in the 2019 Feasibility Study, but after assessing community needs, recreation priorities, and rising costs, Clarington Council paused the project in 2023 (Report CAO-006-23). The project was then restarted with a new scope of work (Report FSD-035-23), including an outdoor refrigerated skating trail to provide an inclusive, multi-season space.

Unlike arenas, which primarily serve organized hockey and figure skating, skating trails encourage casual, family-friendly participation across all ages and skill levels. Designed for year-round use, the trail will also host summer markets and events, enhancing community engagement.

While SBRC will not include an arena, Clarington remains committed to expanding ice facilities in high-demand areas, with South Courtice Arena identified as the preferred site for future ice development to support organized hockey and figure skating.

Summary

The South Bowmanville Recreation Centre (SBRC) is designed to bring people together through movement and wellness. Instead of an equipment-based gym, it offers spaces for group fitness, wellness programs, and social activities—embracing the shift toward interactive, inclusive recreation. This approach aligns with the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan (PRCMP), which prioritizes group-based exercise over individual weight training.

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The South Bowmanville Recreation Centre (SBRC) will be a modern sports and fitness destination, offering versatile spaces that support a wide range of recreation opportunities. Instead of an equipment-based gym, SBRC will feature multi-purpose rooms for group fitness, wellness programs, and community activities, creating inclusive spaces for all ages and abilities while fostering social connection and engagement.

The Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan (PRCMP) highlights a shift toward interactive and inclusive fitness, with more residents choosing group-based programs over traditional gym workouts. The PRCMP community survey found that 38 per cent of respondents participated in aerobic, yoga, or fitness programs, while 21 per cent engaged in weight training. Group fitness can boost motivation, mental well-being, and long-term commitment, strengthening community connections in the process.

Approved by Council on October 28, 2024, the PRCMP will guide recreation investments for the next 10 to 15 years, ensuring Clarington’s facilities continue evolving to meet community needs. Clarington is committed to adapting recreation spaces to evolving fitness trends, ensuring access to dynamic, engaging, and accessible wellness options that encourage lifelong participation.

Explore the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan to learn more.

Summary

Clarington is planning ahead to meet future ice needs, with projections suggesting two more pads may be required by 2036. While expansion won’t be needed until beyond 2031, South Courtice Arena was designed to accommodate additional ice when the time comes.

Right now, Clarington has seven ice pads—exceeding the benchmark service level—and continues investing in upgrades to extend their lifespan. The Municipality is also working with local arena boards and regional partners to maximize ice access for the community.

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Clarington is a community that loves its ice, and the Municipality is committed to growing responsibly to meet future needs. Long-term projections suggest that two more ice pads may be required by 2036 to support increasing demand, based on findings from the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan (PRCMP), approved by Council on October 28, 2024. The PRCMP community survey confirmed broad community support for investment in arenas (indoor ice), with 68 per cent of respondents supporting additional investment, ranking them 13th out of 41 facility types. Additionally, the survey found that 41 per cent of households actively participate in ice activities.

Looking ahead, Clarington has built flexibility into its arena system. The South Courtice Arena was designed to accommodate two additional ice pads, allowing it to expand into a quad-pad facility when needed. This site has been identified as the preferred location for future expansion, though additional ice pads wouldn’t be required until beyond 2031.

Currently, Clarington has one Olympic-sized and six NHL-sized ice pads across our community, including twin ice pads at Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex and South Courtice Arena, a single pad at Darlington Sports Centre, and two municipal-owned ice pads at Orono Arena and Newcastle Memorial Arena, operated independently by local arena boards. Clarington’s arena service level is one ice pad per 15,537 residents, higher than the benchmark average of one per 24,119 residents.

To ensure continued access, Clarington is actively maintaining and enhancing its arena system. The Municipality has invested $3 million in Orono Arena (2024) to add 15 more years to its lifespan, $4 million in Newcastle Memorial Arena (2023) to extend its service life by 20 to 30 years, and $2.2 million in Darlington Sports Centre (2010) to ensure continued operation for years to come. (Report CSD-002-22)

To support immediate needs, the Municipality is maximizing ice time, working with independent arena boards in Newcastle and Orono, and exploring regional partnerships to maintain strong access for local skaters.

Explore the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan (PRCMP) to see the vision for Clarington’s amenities over the next 10 to 15 years and learn how future needs are being addressed.

For every property tax dollar, approximately 33 cents funds local programs and services provided by the Municipality of Clarington, including fire and emergency services, road maintenance, parks, recreation facilities, libraries, municipal law enforcement, and more. Clarington continues to rank among Durham Region’s municipalities with the lowest property taxes, maintaining high-quality services while keeping tax rates affordable.

Your total property tax bill is divided into three portions:

• Municipal taxes fund Clarington’s essential services.

• Regional taxes support transit, policing, public health, social services, and other broader programs.

• Education taxes are set by the Province to support local school boards.

Taxes are based on municipal and regional budget needs and your MPAC property assessment, which determines your home’s value. A higher reassessment does not automatically mean higher taxes, as municipalities adjust rates to collect only what is needed for services outlined in the annual budget. Any surplus funds at the end of the year goes into reserve funds to stabilize tax rates, cover unexpected costs, and fund future projects.

Resources to learn more:

• Clarington's 2024-27 Budget
• Durham Region's Budget
• Ontario's Property Tax page
• Municipal Property Assessment Corporation

Each year, Clarington reviews its budget to ensure community needs are met and tax rates are adjusted accordingly. Property taxes follow a three-step cycle:

• In winter, residents receive an Interim Property Tax Bill, based on the previous year’s estimates.
• In spring, Clarington passes the Final Tax By-Law, officially setting tax rates.
• By May, residents receive their Final Property Tax Bill, reflecting actual taxes owed.

Property taxes are paid in four instalments—February, April, June, and September. Clarington offers flexible payment options, including pre-authorized payments, online or telephone banking, in-person payments, and mail-in cheques. For a paperless experience, residents can sign up for eBilling at www.clarington.net/eBilling, making tax bills easily accessible online. Pre-authorized payments provide a convenient way to manage taxes, with monthly or instalment-based schedules. Learn more and enroll at www.clarington.net/PAP.

Telecommunication towers and antenna systems are regulated exclusively by Federal Legislation under the Federal Radiocommunication Act administered by the department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). However, the Municipality of Clarington recognizes the critical importance of ensuring our residents have reliable cellular service across our community—so we’re stepping up.

In October 2024, Council approved a report directing staff to partner with Shared Tower Inc. to explore municipally owned locations to build cellular infrastructure. Since then, Clarington has negotiated agreements with Shared Tower for the construction and operation of telecommunications antennas and tower systems on two municipal properties with agreement on a third site pending:

• Fire Station 1 (Bowmanville)
  
• South Courtice Arena
• Fire Station 3 (Orono) – pending final agreement

Over the coming months, Shared Tower will lead the detailed design, permitting and public consultation processes for these areas. Construction of a new cell tower at Fire Station 1 is anticipated to begin in summer 2025 and be operational by September 2025. South Courtice Arena and Fire Station 3 in Orono will follow, pending some additional considerations.

Visit www.clarington.net/CellTower to learn more!