In response to “overwhelming demand” for indoor recreational facilities, the Town of Milton is exploring ways to enhance partnerships with local school boards to unlock underused gyms and make them more accessible to residents.
The decision comes as Town-run programs reportedly fill up within minutes of winter registration opening, with existing facilities at full capacity during both weekdays and weekends.
“There is a heavy demand for access to more gym space,” said Coun. Adil Khalqi, who moved the motion at the most recent council meeting. He pointed to underutilized school gyms — which serve as a complement to the facilities provided directly by the Town — as a potential solution.
“What I've also been made aware of is that there is a supply that may be available in schools of gyms that don't get used for reasons that are beyond me. It could be cost, it could be another factor there,” he said.
Highlighting the versatility of indoor gym spaces, Khalqi noted that they can accommodate a range of sports, including pickleball, badminton and other indoor activities.
Resident Bryan De Sousa, speaking at the meeting, described the challenges of booking gym time in Milton.
Calling gym space “a premium,” De Sousa said it took two months to secure a single hour of gym time, with fees adding up for rental, administration and custodial services.
“My concern always comes back to — there's limited capacity, and then it's the priority ranking of the groups that get access to it,” he said.
“Right now you could have one club buying up 75 to 80 per cent of prime time, which is fine. It's within the rules. I completely understand that. But then it's locking out everybody else, or a father that just wants to get time in the gym for his son to play football or futsal.”
Doug Sampano, commissioner of community services, acknowledged that the Town’s inventory of gyms has not kept pace with its fast-growing population, despite new schools providing some relief.
“We haven't added any new inventory into Town gyms since, I believe, we added in the velodrome,” Sampano said. "There is some capacity inside the school gyms right now, as we speak, for people wishing to take advantage of those spaces."
The motion passed unanimously, directing staff to explore solutions and present a report to council by June 2025. The resolution will focus on issues like affordability and ways to share gym facilities more effectively, including potential subsidies for school gym rentals and strategies to increase access to prime-time gym slots.