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What Trends Affect Recreation?
Society today is not the same as it was 50 years ago. Our interests, leisure time and activity choices have changed. We cannot expect facilities built 50 years ago to support our new lifestyles and so we must think clearly about our recreation needs today and for the future.
What trends must we consider?
Our Activity Choices
In today’s hectic society, people tend to choose less structured activities that fit easily into varied schedules and changing routines. We are pursuing a greater diversity of activities and are looking for ways to incorporate lifestyle and wellness into our daily routines. These shifts impact the size and layout of facilities, facility operating schedules and demand for outdoor recreation.
Our Shifting Demographics & Diversity
As we age, our preference and capacity to participate in recreation changes, affecting the services we require. Additionally, cultural diversity presents a need to ensure that all residents of a community have access to relevant recreational experiences. Finally, due to changing economics, commercial enterprise and personal preference, some communities grow while others decline. By anticipating these population shifts we can invest in our recreation facilities where our dollars will have the greatest benefit.
Our Approach to Recreation
Today we recognize the value of integrating multiple recreation levels and services in one facility. This integrated approach combines overall building costs while extensively increasing the utility, accessibility and operational benefits of a single facility. These multi-use facilities quickly become community hubs, but also require extensive planning and often large capital investments.
Our Desire to be Inclusive
Recreation is an essential right for all British Columbians, however many facilities are not yet capable of providing full access to everyone. Over a quarter of our indoor and almost half of our outdoor recreation facilities in BC rate as poor in terms of physical accessibility. While accessibility varies by activity type and site conditions, a significant number of facilities in BC require upgrades in order to provide barrier-free access to all.
Our Environmental Awareness
As concern for the environment grows, people are supporting protection of green space through parks, open spaces and trails. Public stewardship is gaining momentum and new technologies allow development of public infrastructure with a much smaller carbon footprint, increasing the viability of and need for green decision-making.
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Access the full report and background studies here.
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