What is the State of Recreation Infrastructure in BC?

Few people today can dispute the benefits that recreation has on our quality of life. Recreation is essential to our well-being, encouraging physical activity, fostering social connections and providing enjoyment for all ages and abilities.

But what about the places we use for swimming, skating, walking and playing? Are they capable of supporting BC’s growing population and the changing face of recreation?

A Time for Renewal
Our parks, pools, arenas and community centres – BC’s recreation infrastructure – form the hearts of our communities. These are places where people gather for neighbourhood celebrations, where we cheer local sports heroes and where we go to learn new skills and take part in physical activity. Because our recreation, sport and leisure facilities are so important, yet so little was known about their condition, BCRPA launched a Community Recreation Facilities Assessment Study to take stock of these assets and evaluate their condition. This was the first detailed study of its kind in BC. The goal was to develop a clear picture of the state of our aging recreation infrastructure and what needs to be done to keep it a vital part of our communities for coming generations.

The Facilities Assessment Study examined eight types of indoor and four types of outdoor publicly owned and/or operated recreation facilities. The data generated revealed a clear picture of the escalating challenges our communities face related to sustaining and improving our recreation facilities.

The Facilities Assessment Study included three key components:

  1. Inventory Phases: Three inventories were performed to compile a comprehensive database of existing recreation facilities in BC.
  2. Analysis Phase: An analysis study examined the inventory data and developed theoretical infrastructure replacement and rehabilitation costs.
  3. Validation Audit: 34 existing recreation buildings were selected for detailed evaluation and audit to validate the theoretical analysis and establish empirical data about facility rehabilitation needs and costs.

 

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