You Could Pay More for Park and Rec Services

By Gagandeep Ghuman
Published: Jan. 27, 2013

You might have to shell more money for recreation services at the district.

The district is reviewing its park and recreation fees, but it’s not yet clear where you will be asked to pay more.

Or less.

For some services, fees might even be reduced.

“This is not an across the board fee increase,” said the district spokesperson, Christina Moore.

Moore said the district would seek public feedback on fees increase.

Going by the recent tone of staff presentation, it seems like residents should brace for a fees increase.

According to the district staff, the current fees structure for parks and recreation hasn’t been reviewed for over 20 years.

In fact, the staff said there is ‘lack of documentation’ to explain how the fees was originally determined.

The district’s market survey has now shown that Squamish fees are ‘below market range’.

More details will be available in March, but the district wants a fee structure that will improve access, encourage use, and support local community groups.

There is little doubt that Brennan Park could do with some rebooting.

Perhaps, charging more for programs will ensure the Brennan Park no longer feels like a ‘ghost town.’

A district report in 2011 painted a frank–and damning picture–of a recreation centre where old and insufficient programs need a desperate new breath of life.

The findings were reached after confidential interviews with citizens and independent reviews by the district.

Some finding:

The district does not collect 50 per cent of campground revenue because of management loopholes.

Then, there are not enough spaces in the specific programs, mainly in aquatics.

People find themselves on wait list for programs. Timing for programs does not meet current demand for parents that are working.

There is more.

The recreation service facilities are under-utilised, survey finds. The auditorium use rate is only 33 per cent, for junior lounge, it is 12 per cent, and for ice arena, it’s 60 per cent.

The survey also found out the booking process is restricted to standard office hours, is cumbersome and not user friendly in terms of processes and forms.

The programing is also not inclusive of all age groups, and nor are the programs well-attended.

“Consistently the message received was one of mediocrity,” the review found.

The recreation centre and arena were built together 36 years ago to meet the needs of the day.

Although well maintained and in good repair (for their age), the survey offer minimal amenities compared to many communities elsewhere in BC and Canada, the review found.

In fact, revamping the Brennan Park for indoor recreation was considered one of the priorities in a recent survey conducted by the district.