With little fanfare, District of Squamish council this week passed the municipality's first-ever Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
It's taken more than a year to compile, a phone survey, online questionnaire and numerous public consultation sessions. The end result, adopted on Tuesday (April 2), is a 20-year visioning document that guides community growth in parks and recreation, Mayor Rob Kirkham said, at the regular business meeting.
It seems a little anti-climatic, he said, after council unanimously passed the final draft.
In a turnabout, the Squamish Valley Equestrian Association (SVEA) voiced its support for the plan. The organization had concerns about early drafts' suggestions that the group's riding ring be moved adjacent to the Squamish Rod and Gun Club. Municipal staff worked alongside the group and the final plan keeps the equestrian site in its current location, the association's vice president Jinny Antilla said.
We have had many meetings with district staff, she said.
The discussions opened doors to creative opportunities, Antilla added. The horse riders are currently talking to scouting groups and the BMX club about the possibility of building a covered arena for joint use. The association also aims to get a long-term lease on its facility.
The final document does not recommend building a second rink for the community, said Erik Lees, principal of the consulting firm Lees and Associates. Ice users had voiced a strong desire for such a facility. A population of approximately 20,000 is needed to justify a single rink, and another 20,000 would be needed to justify the cost of building and maintaining a second rink, Lees noted.
There isn't a silver bullet, he said.
Municipal staff sent the draft to Squamish Nation, district planner Elaine Naisby said. The document outlines opportunities to partner with the Nation on a lacrosse box and other ways to incorporate Squamish culture into the community's growth.
The plan aims to satisfy as many interests as possible, while addressing Squamish residents' needs in the future, Naisby said. It can be viewed online at www.squamish.ca.
