PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN Phase 1 Background Summary - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURE MASTER PLAN

Phase 1 Background Summary

Agenda

• Where We Are: Work to Date
• Abbotsforward and Plan 200K
• rganizational alignment
• Benefits of PRC
• Phase 1 Engagement Summary
• Service Area Summaries
• Parks
• Recreation
• Culture

PRC Master Plan

The City of Abbotsford’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan will help guide planning and decision-making related to parks, recreation, and culture.

PRC Master Plan Timeline

STAGE 1 – BACKGROUND RESEARCH (We are here)

• Gathered data on parks, recreation and culture facilities,

programs and services

• Collected and summarized community input

BACKGROUND RESEARCH ANALYSIS DRAFT PLAN FINAL PLAN

Early February Late March Late June

Organizational Alignment

PRC Master Plan will align with:

• Abbotsforward’s 7 big ideas
• City’s Strategic Plan

Complete Community Vibrant Economy Fiscal Discipline Organizational Alignment

Plan 200K

Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2005

The PRC Master Plan reviews recommendations from 2005 and accomplishments since that time

Benefits of PRC

• Culture and social inclusion
• Economic development
• Mental and physical heath

and well-being

• Environment

Abbotsford in Context

• Rich history and heritage
• Large size and significant

agricultural land

• Growing population
• Diverse population
• Socio-economic challenges

Phase 1 Engagement Process

Phase 1 Engagement Themes

Phase 1 Engagement Priorities

Number 1 Priorities:

• Parks and trails (419)
• Sports fields (118)
• Pools (86)
• Cultural facilities (46)
• Cultural programs (34)
• Fitness/gymnasium spaces (27)
• Arenas (25)
• Sports/fitness programs (21)

Phase 1 Engagement Input

Focus Group Recommendations

This word cloud represents the combined recommendations of all focus group workshops.

Parks

Service Areas

• Parks and Horticulture
• Park Features
• Trails
• Sports Fields
• Sports Courts
• Outdoor Recreation
• Natural Areas and Urban Forestry
• Cemeteries

This word cloud represents the combined recommendations of the parks focus group workshops.

Parks and Horticulture

Parks & Horticulture

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• More parks to support population growth
• Improved safety and response to socioeconomic

issues

• Protected environmentally sensitive areas and

wildlife

• Improved accessibility in parks

Park Features

Park Features

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• More spray parks and community gardens
• Update playgrounds with innovative and/or

natural playgrounds

• More supporting amenities, such as

washrooms

• New playgrounds in Mill Lake Park and eastern

part of Abbotsford

• More Free Little Libraries in parks

Trails

Trails

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• More trail connections
• More bike paths
• Improved maintenance of

paths and trails

• More amenities such as garbage

cans, lighting, and signage

• Improved safety of trails and

bike paths

• Fear of losing trails to development
• More dog off-leash access on trails

and concerns regarding dog off- leash enforcement

Sports Fields

Sports Fields

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• Additional multi-sport tournament

facilities

• More and clustered ball diamonds
• More sports fields for population growth,

including soccer, rugby, and football

• Improved maintenance of sports fields

Sports Courts

Sports Courts

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• More multi-sport, tennis and pickleball

courts

Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor Recreation

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• More and upgraded dog off-leash areas, with amenities such as waste bins
• More youth parks with different features
• Interest in new opportunities, such as a dedicated longboarding facility,

swimming area in Mill Lake Park, and a disc golf course

• Upgraded fitness equipment
• Resolution to issues with the Abby Grind

Natural Areas and Urban Forestry

Natural Areas and Urban Forestry

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• Protection of environmental assets
• More natural areas and trees in the city
• Improved maintenance of natural areas, e.g., invasive species
• Update the Tree Protection Bylaw

Cemeteries

• Community engagement did not ask for

input on cemeteries

Recreation

Service Areas

• Aquatics
• Arenas
• Fitness and Wellness
• Indoor Sports
• Community Recreation

This word cloud represents the combined recommendations

• f the recreation focus group workshops.

Aquatics

Aquatics

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• Competition-level aquatic facilities
• New leisure pool and therapy pool
• Improved inclusion and accessibility
• Improved maintenance
• Variety in program times and more

special events

Arenas

Arenas

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• Upgrading or replacing existing arenas
• Increased time for skating drop-in and

hockey

• Access to ice time for a ringette program
• Desire for twin pad arena to host figure

skating competitions and hockey tournaments

Fitness and Wellness

Fitness and Wellness

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• Larger fitness facility at MRC
• More variety and more time/location
• ptions for fitness classes
• More affordable fitness classes and

facilities

• Better maintenance of washrooms

Indoor Sports

Indoor Sports

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• Need more indoor space for multiple

sports, e.g., gymnasium, dry floor

• Increased drop-in access for

recreational sports

• Family and accessible change rooms

at the indoor recreation facilities

Community Recreation

Community Recreation

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• More multi-purpose spaces available to rent
• Larger youth centres with gym access
• More strategically located seniors’ centres that are accessible by transit
• Universal design inclusive of all ages and abilities

Culture

Service Areas

• Visual Arts
• Public Art
• Heritage
• Performing Arts
• Entertainment and Festivals
• Libraries

This word cloud represents the combined recommendations of the culture focus group workshops.

Visual Arts

Visual Arts

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• Multi-purpose visual and performing arts facility in the city centre
• Investigate more opportunities to nurture and promote local artists
• More spaces available for visual arts teaching and production
• Investigate partnerships for additional cultural facilities (e.g., performance

centre), infrastructure and equipment

Public Art

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• Increased opportunities for local artists to

display their talent through public art

• More public art in parks and along trails
• Artwork that reflects the social trends and
• pinions associated with younger

demographics

• Developer contributions to public art

Heritage

Heritage

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• Update the 2005 Heritage Plan
• Involvement and promotion of local Indigenous and multicultural

communities

• More celebratory programs related to the city’s history and heritage
• Better protection of and education about Abbotsford’s heritage sites
• Modern approach to interpretation using technology

Performing Arts

Performing Arts

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• Affordable and flexible rehearsal space and

performance venues, including a black box theatre

• Multi-purpose visual and performing arts

facility

• A permanent outdoor performance space

Entertainment and Festivals

Entertainment and Festivals

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• Additional art markets, concerts, and theatre events
• Improved promotion of special events
• Additional and improved events for families

Libraries

Libraries

Themes from Community Survey and Focus Groups

• Desire for additional libraries
• Improved accessibility to library resources

and increased hours of operation

Next Steps

STAGE 2 – ANALYSIS

• Analyze facilities, programs, and services
• Review of assets, service delivery, and programming based on

comparable communities, community input, organizational alignment and trends/best practices

• Identify needs for parks, recreation, and culture in Abbotsford

BACKGROUND RESEARCH ANALYSIS DRAFT PLAN FINAL PLAN

THANK YOU!