Efforts are underway to plan for Powell River Recreation Complex’s future.
Parks, recreation and culture director Ray Boogaards said the city is looking for a Powell River recreation centre rehabilitation plan that will respond to the community’s recreational and social requirements for the next 20 years.
Boogaards said there is a request for proposals (RFP) that has gone out to city staff team members to review. Once the RFP has been finalized and published, the city will be looking for an architect to put in a bid and have an extensive public process on what the city actually needs in the recreation complex.
“This building was built in 1975; it’s been here for a while,” said Boogaards. “In the years that public recreation facilities have been built, demographics change and recreation trends change. So, where do we need to go for the next 20 years?
“We need to come up with a plan of action that is supported by the community through this public process to say this is what the community says it needs.”
Boogaards said the architect will be using the expanded regional recreation initiative study (ERRIS) report as part of the process because the document created was a very thorough process examining recreation in Powell River.
He said many questions need to be answered, such as what needs to be looked at with the recreation complex and what the public wants to see there.
“Do they want to see a large water slide?” said Boogaards. “Do they want to see changes to the rink or the arena? Do they think our fitness room is big enough? Do we need to look at accessibility, which we know is one of the biggest issues.”
Boogaards said the recreation department needs to be planning for the future and the public has to be part of these plans. It will be important for the consultant, after extensive public consultation, to come back to city council and the participants in the consultation process with what they found.
Boogaards said the recreation complex is an important regional hub for not only recreation, but also for social opportunities, and this has to be recognized in the study.
He said his goal, as part of the RFP, was to work within the existing footprints of the recreation complex. It is important to look at efficiencies and look at what isn’t being used now that could be modified.
For example, is there a need for multi-use space versus space that is used for one type of activity?
“We have to see where the trends are going,” said Boogaards.
“Our highest priority is looking at existing space, which we feel could be a lot more economical, and if they are going to recommend going outside the traditional existing footprint, have a cost analysis.”
There are some known improvements that have to be made. For example, more change rooms are needed in the building for the arena and rink, but the question is how is this is accomplished without talking to the public and user groups to find out what they need.
The study will look at the recreation complex’s mechanical component, the electrical component, a review of the refrigeration plant, there is already a report in on the chlorine system for the swimming pool, plus seismic factors. How to improve the grounds of the recreation complex will also be a consideration.
“We need to have something that we can make a recommendation to council with information they can use to make their decision,” said Boogaards.
In terms of recreation complex usage, the fall program registrations are already doing well, according to Boogaards.
“Our numbers are up,” said Boogaards. “Our staff has done a tremendous job coming up with new ideas for programs, new opportunities. We have specialty programs going on, such as Brave Hearts, which we have been running, and a Parkinson’s disease program. There’s all kinds of different things for the community.”
Boogaards said his department wants to listen to what the community wants and try to be as responsive as possible. Staff members are also looking at recreation trends from other communities to meet the challenges.
He said Powell River is also offering unique programs such as aqua yoga. Boogaards is not aware of anywhere else that’s running the program.
“We have a tremendous instructor and she does an awesome job and the classes are full,” said Boogaards.
“We’re looking forward to getting everybody back in the building in the fall.”
