Reimagining Castlegar recreation engagement wraps up with final report

The public engagement period for the Regional District of Central Kootenay’s Reimagining Recreation Services in the Castlegar & District Area project has come to a close, with the final report now available online. 

Recommendations for improvements by survey responders included a second ice surface, expanded fitness centre, walking track a new leisure pool.

It also suggest looking into how the current rink can hand the increase demand once the Pioneer Arena is demolished this summer.

The final report summarizes the three phases of the project, highlights key information collected during the engagement process, presents community feedback, draws conclusions, and outlines potential next steps for the Castlegar & District Recreation Commission. 

The public engagement project was part of a multi-phase process to reimagine the future of recreation services in the Castlegar area.

It gathered resident feedback on current services, identified desired enhancements, and developed a long-term vision that reflects community priorities, including considerations related to the closure of the Pioneer Arena. 

The RDCK launched Phase 1 of the project last spring with a series of community meetings held throughout April and May. 

These meetings aimed to inform residents about the consultation process and how it could enhance services, explain how the engagement process would be completed, share information about the current state of recreation services in the City of Castlegar and Areas I and J, and gather community input on the future of recreation services in the region. 

Phase 2 was completed in July.

A resident and group survey was conducted to gather feedback to help the Recreation Commission for Areas I and J, along with the City of Castlegar, plan the future of recreation services. The survey sought residents’ thoughts on the following topics: 

• What enhancements or additional amenities are needed or desired at the Castlegar & District Community Complex? 
• What improvements to recreation services are needed overall in the Castlegar & District Area (outside the Community Complex)? 
• What is the community willing or able to fund for potential enhancements or additional recreation amenities? 

Phase 3 saw the RDCK return to residents at the end of October to share the findings from Phase 2 and launch an additional short survey to gather feedback on those results. 

Findings

The report states that participation in the Phase Two resident survey exceeded the response rates of recreation surveys conducted in other communities.

Participation rates for Areas I, J, and the City of Castlegar ranged between 6 and 9 per cent.

Through its engagement efforts, the Commission determined that many residents do not fully understand how recreation services are delivered in the Castlegar District.

This was particularly evident during Phase One’s community meetings, where it was observed that many people were unaware of the differences in responsibilities between the City of Castlegar, the RDCK, and the Castlegar & District Recreation Commission.

Residential taxation and its role in funding different services was another area where some residents needed further clarity.

That said, the report also indicates broad recognition of the value of recreation across the Castlegar & District region.

Study participants specifically commented on their appreciation for the existing amenities at the Castlegar & District Community Complex, with the aquatic areas and the arena identified as the most important features.

The study found considerable discrepancies among respondents regarding the need for improvements or enhancements to recreation services. The majority of those in favour of enhancements live in the City of Castlegar and Area J.

Just over half of the respondents from Area I believe enhancements are needed, whereas support was significantly higher among respondents in Area J (69 per cent) and Castlegar (77 per cent).

The study consistently found that Area I residents were less supportive of recreation enhancements than those in Area J and Castlegar.

Next Steps for the Community 

The Castlegar & District Recreation Commission has reviewed the final report and directed staff to bring back further information to evaluate the tax contributions needed to support a future project, based on the data gathered in the Phase 2 survey. 

The Commission remains committed to ensuring that the community’s voice is central in the decision-making process as it navigates the future of local recreation services. 

“We are extremely grateful to the community for its active participation and valuable feedback throughout this engagement process,” said Brian Bogle, Chair of the Castlegar & District Recreation Commission. 

“This final report is an essential step as we move into the planning stage, and we will continue to keep residents informed about the next steps as we work towards creating a vibrant recreation environment.” 

You can review the final report and all three phases’ reports at Reimagining Recreation Services in the Castlegar & District Area | Engage RDCK.

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