Parks vs Police budgeting: What would make a better Sarnia?

I've been sitting at Germain Park for the last few hours this Wednesday afternoon, and my mind started wandering about why it is so under-serviced, the arena is gone, lawn […]

I've been sitting at Germain Park for the last few hours this Wednesday afternoon, and my mind started wandering about why it is so under-serviced, the arena is gone, lawn bowling gets sadder every year and only a handful of people are utilizing it.

I want to try a little thought experiment. Nothing too heavy, just a chance to imagine a different world that could be possible.

Sarnia’s proposed 2025 budget sets aside $33.1 million for police services. For parks and recreation, the number is $11.6 million. That’s nearly a three-to-one ratio.

So here’s the thought: what if we just flipped them? What if parks and recreation had $33 million to spend and police had $11 million?

Imagine our parks bustling with full-time events crews, more public infrastructure and full entertainment and leisure areas. Picture splash pads running, patios, ball diamonds maintained like the pros, arenas upgraded without parents having to fundraise for basics. We could build a new recreation centre every year and continue to develop more and more things for our citizens to do and enjoy Sarnia. 

Meanwhile, the police would be left with $11 million. Fewer cruisers circling the same streets. A building that suddenly doesn’t need to be replaced for a castle. Some officers might say the whole city would fall apart. But if we’re honest, most of us probably wouldn’t notice the difference in our day-to-day lives except maybe for the quieter sirens.

Would that trade-off make us less safe? Or would safety look different—built from busy parks, well-used rinks, and streets where people actually want to gather?

Budgets are usually presented as cold numbers, but they’re really just choices. Choices about what kind of city we want to live in.

So I’ll leave it with you: if we flipped police and parks, would Sarnia be better off, or worse?