Future of Port Perry Fairgrounds moves one step closer

Darryl Knight – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter / Brandon Clark – The Standard News

SCUGOG: Plans to develop a long-term vision for the Port Perry Fairgrounds are moving into their next stage following strong community participation in the first round of public consultation.

At a special meeting on Monday, March 9th, Scugog council reviewed an interim report on the “Your Voice, Your Fairgrounds” land-use visioning project and agreed to move the process forward as the community consultation enters its next phase.

The visioning exercise, led by consulting firms Darwin Pivot and J.L. Richards & Associates, aims to guide the future use of the fairgrounds while balancing community needs, heritage, and public access. The project began in the fall of 2025 after the Township of Scugog awarded the contract to the consulting team to conduct a comprehensive public engagement process.

Emily Hazell and Troy Glover of Darwin Pivot presented the interim findings to council.

“This project is moving through phases,” Ms. Hazell told council. “We kicked off the project early in the fall of last year, and we completed our first round of initial community and stakeholder engagement.”

The overall project includes five phases. The first two focused on community engagement and data collection. The third phase, presented to council, outlines the interim report and analysis of the feedback received so far. The remaining phases, follow-up engagement and the draft and final visioning report, are expected to take place later this spring.

Round One of the consultation generated strong participation from residents and community groups. More than 1,000 responses were collected through surveys, written submissions, community pop-in sessions, and conversations with stakeholders.

The engagement included more than 300 written comments gathered at four community pop-in events, approximately 490 online and paper surveys, and dozens of discussions through community networks. Youth participation included contributions from students at Port Perry High School and R.H. Cornish Public School, while senior citizens also participated through presentations and paper surveys. Meetings and a site tour were also held with representatives of the Port Perry Agricultural Society.

The feedback revealed several common themes about the future of the fairgrounds.

Residents emphasized the importance of strengthening community connections and maintaining the fairgrounds as a gathering place for events and everyday recreation. Protecting and enhancing open, accessible green space was another consistent message, with many people highlighting the fairgrounds’ central location and walkable character.

Participants also expressed strong support for honouring the site’s agricultural heritage while allowing improvements which would support year-round use. Flexibility in the design of the space, so it can host large events while also serving daily recreational needs, was another key theme, along with the importance of careful, long-term stewardship of the property.

Based on the feedback, several guiding principles are being considered as the project moves forward. These include preserving space for the annual Port Perry Fair, maintaining the site as publicly accessible greenspace, improving facilities for everyday use, and exploring flexible, multi-use spaces which could support evolving community needs over time.

Mayor Wilma Wotten said the level of participation demonstrates how important the fairgrounds are to residents.

“We’re thrilled to see more than 1,000 people take part in this process,” Mayor Wotten said. “From the beginning, our goal was for the community to be directly involved in giving their ideas and helping shape the future of these lands. As we move into the next phase, we encourage everyone to keep participating and share their ideas in a respectful way.”

Paul Puckrin, president of the Port Perry Agricultural Society, emphasized in a letter to Council the importance of protecting the fairgrounds as a community asset. The society has expressed interest in renewing its lease, which expires in June, and continuing to work with the township to preserve the site as the home of the annual fair.

Public feedback has also suggested improvements such as additional pathways, shade trees and upgraded facilities, while many residents stressed the importance of ensuring the fairgrounds remain protected as green space rather than being converted for residential development.

The next stage of the project will include technical workshops to examine how different ideas might fit on the site. A community open house is also planned, where residents will be invited to review and comment on preliminary design concepts. Digital participation options will also be available. Please visit my.scugog.ca/fairgrounds for information.

A final visioning report is expected to be presented to council between the end of May and early June.