Powell River recreation services and facilities are well used but residents see room for improvement.
Gary Young, a consultant with Gary Young and Associates, said in developing his service review report on recreation in Powell River, a number of data gathering methodologies were used, including a random community survey, which was “very informative.”
Young presented his findings to City of Powell River’s committee of the whole on Thursday, June 19.
In terms of his community survey results, Young said the public library is an important component of the entire leisure and recreation services delivery system in Powell River, with 53 per cent of households reporting that they visited the facility at least once in 2013, and 36 per cent reporting that they use the facility on a frequent basis.
Nearly half the households use Evergreen Theatre. Residents, however, do not use the theatre on a consistent basis. Young said his review shows the theatre only hosted 41 performances in 2013.
Dwight Hall is also a well-used facility, with 38 per cent of households attending events and functions there.
The aquatic centre is used by almost half the households and it is the third most
frequently used facility.
Powell River Recreation Complex fitness centre, which was expanded a few years ago, has proven to be extensively used and is near capacity in prime time hours.
Young said that three-quarters of the survey sample reported use of one or more parts of the recreation complex.
Households with children living in the home were highly likely to use the recreation complex (90 per cent) and significantly more likely to use the facility than those with no children in the home (70 per cent). Use was higher among households with children for the aquatic centre (75 per cent) in comparison with households with no children (41 per cent) and the ice arena (58 per cent of those with children and 28 per cent of those with no children at home).
Use of the aquatic centre and ice arena tended to decline as the age of survey respondents increased, but use held steady regardless of age for Evergreen Theatre.
Use of the fitness centre peaked for the 45 to 54 year age group (51 per cent) but was about the same for the other age groups. Use of meeting and program rooms was higher for the 55 to 64 year group (29 per cent) and the 19 to 44 year age group (24 per cent) but was about the same for the other two age groups.
Young said recreational facility use barriers were explored in focus groups that were established for his report. Program scheduling (timing of programs) was the most frequently mentioned barrier affecting 22 per cent of survey households. This is a barrier for 42 per cent of households with children in the home and 16 per cent of households with no children.
Cost is a barrier for 19 per cent of survey households. This barrier decreased with increasing age. The range was from 33 per cent of 19 to 44 year olds to seven per cent of those 65 and older.
Lack of time is a barrier to 18 per cent of surveyed households. It is a barrier for significantly more households with children (30 per cent) than those without children (14 per cent).
Unavailability of activities of interest is also a barrier for 14 per cent of households. The range was from 22 per cent of 19 to 44 year olds to seven per cent of those 65 and older. It is barrier for significantly more households with children (21 per cent) than those without children (11 per cent).
Transportation difficulties are a barrier for 11 per cent of households. Inconvenient and distance to locations is a barrier for eight of households.
Young said large majorities of local residents are satisfied with most of the recreation facilities. A large percentage of dissatisfied ratings were given to spaces for youth activities. Better family recreation was also mentioned.
A number of responses stated the recreation complex is a 1970’s design that requires modernization. Accessibility was also identified as an issue for improvement. A mother with toddlers in a stroller would have to walk around outside or drive to the upper floor of the complex because navigating the stairs would not be possible and an elevator is not available.
Young’s report states the public is generally satisfied with the fees charged by the recreation complex and a review shows that they are comparable to other communities of similar size and composition.
Young’s report listed 23 recommendations for action. Councillor Myrna Leishman said she would like to see recommendations requiring a budget to be discussed at city council’s coming strategic planning session and budget session, and the items not requiring a budget to be put on council’s action list so that it can ensure that things are “being done or not done.”
