City of Lethbridge The State of Recreation and Culture in Lethbridge January 28th, 2013 City of Lethbridge The State of Recreation and Culture in Lethbridge Table of Contents City of Lethbridge1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 Process Overview and Methodology 2 3.0 Community Context 3 3.1. Community History 3 3.2. Current Situation 5 3.3. Population and Growth 6 3.3.1. Growth Projections 7 4.0 Benefits of Recreation and Culture 9 The State of Recreation 4.1. Recreation and Culture… 9 4.1.1. Are essential to personal health and well-being 9 4.1.2. Provide the key to balanced human development 10 and Culture in Lethbridge 4.1.3. Provide a foundation for quality of life 10 4.1.4. Reduce self-destructive and anti-social behavior 10 4.1.5. Build strong families and healthy communities 11 4.1.6. Reduce health care, social service and police / justice costs 11 4.1.7. Are a significant economic generator 11 4.1.8. Green spaces are essential to well-being 11 4.2. The Economic Impact of Recreation and Culture in Lethbridge 12 5.0 Trends & Issues in Recreation and Culture Provision 16 5.1. Trends in Service Delivery 17 5.1.1. Partnering 17 5.1.2. Volunteerism 17 5.1.3. Support from Other Orders of Government 18 5.1.4. Revenue Generation 20 5.1.5. Community Development 22 5.1.6. Recreation and Culture As Economic Drivers 22 5.1.7. Sport, Recreation, Culture and Heritage Tourism 23 5.2. Trends in Infrastructure 27 5.2.1. Unstructured Use 27 5.2.2. Flexibility, Activity Clustering and Multi-Purpose Engagement 28 5.2.3. Integrating Indoor and Outdoor Environments 31 5.2.4. Maximum Physical Accessibility 31 5.2.5. Infrastructure as Components of Marketing and Branding 32 5.2.6. “Green-Thinking” and Sustainable Practices 33 5.2.7. Cultural Districts 33 5.3. Trends in Pursuits & Activities 34 5.3.1. Sport for Life Strategy 34 5.3.2. Fitness Levels 34 5.3.3. Nature Deficit Disorder 34 5.3.4. Natural Play Spaces and Unstructured Play 35 5.3.5. Recreation and Culture Are a Social Benefit to Children 35 5.3.6. Recreation and Culture Facilitate Social Inclusion 36 5.3.7. Index of Wellbeing 37 5.3.8. Alberta Recreation Survey 38 5.3.9. Cultural Attitudes and Participation Levels 39 5.3.10. Specific Trends in Cultural Participation 39 6.0 Comparative Analysis 45 6.1. Policy & Programming 45 6.1.1. Comparable Communities 46 6.1.2. Broad Application 47 6.2. Resource Provision 52 6.2.1 Yardstick Park Management Data 53 6.3. Spending 54 7.0 Resource Inventory 55 7.1. Recreation Facilities within Lethbridge 55 7.1.1. Ice Arenas 56 7.1.2. Curling Rinks 59 7.1.3. Seniors Centres 60 7.1.4. Indoor Fields 60 7.1.5. Gymnasiums 61 7.1.6. Indoor Pools 62 7.1.7. Outdoor Pools 64 7.1.8. Judo Centre 65 7.1.9. ENMAX Centre 65 7.1.10. Ball Diamonds 66 7.1.11. Rectangular Fields 67 7.1.12. Skate Park 68 7.1.13. BMX Park 68 7.1.14. Mountain Bike Park 69 7.1.15. Lawn Bowling 69 7.1.16. Tennis Courts 70 7.1.17. Shooting Range 70 7.1.18. Spray Parks 71 7.1.19. Basketball Courts 71 7.1.20. Other Outdoor Recreation Areas 72 7.2. Cultural Facilities within Lethbridge 73 7.2.1. Community Arts Centres 73 7.2.2. Museums and Interpretive Centres 74 7.2.3. Performing Arts Venues 76 7.2.4. Art Galleries 77 7.2.5. Multicultural Centres 78 7.2.6. Other Culture Facilities 77 7.3. Estimated Overall Replacement Value Summary 79 7.4. Future Recreation and Culture Projects 80 7.5. Regional Recreation and Cultural Facilities 81 [ iv ] 8.0 Service Delivery Context & Model 82 8.1. Strategic Context 83 8.1.1. Integrated Community Sustainability Plan | Municipal Development Plan— Bylaw #5650 (July 2010) 84 8.1.2. Heart of Our City Master Plan (September 2007) 84 8.1.3. City of Lethbridge Public Art Master Plan—A Comprehensive Strategy for Public Art and Collections Management (July 2012) 84 8.1.4. City of Lethbridge Public Art Policy (July 2012) 85 8.1.5. River Valley Area Redevelopment Plan | Bylaw 5503 (March 2008) 85 8.1.6. Parks Master Plan—Planning for a healthy future (March 2007) 85 8.1.7. Bikeways and Pathways Master Plan (March 2007) 86 8.1.8. Transportation Master Plan (Currently Being Developed) 86 8.1.9. Alberta Walkability Road Show (2011) 86 8.1.10. City of Lethbridge Sport & Recreation Policy (Oct 2007) 87 8.1.11. Active Alberta Policy 2011–2021 87 8.1.12. Lethbridge Active Community Strategy 2011 88 8.2. Approach to Service Delivery 88 8.2.1. Spectrum of Service Delivery 90 8.3. Organizational Chart 90 8.3.1. Corporate 90 8.3.2. Departmental Relationships 91 8.3.3. Community Services Department 92 8.4. Partnership & Service Agreements / Contracts 93 8.4.1. Lethbridge Sport Council—Fee-for-service Agreement 93 8.4.2. Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge—Lease and Fee-for-service Agreement 94 8.4.3. Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge—Fee-for-service Agreement 94 8.4.4. Canadian Recreation Excellence (Lethbridge) Corporation 94 8.4.5. Lethbridge Soccer Association 95 8.4.6. University of Lethbridge—Nicholas Sheran Ice Centre 95 9.0 Community Engagement 96 9.1. Previous Consultation Efforts 98 9.1.1. 2011 Citizen Satisfaction Survey 98 9.1.2. Lethbridge Leisure Centre Needs Assessment & Concept Design 99 9.1.3. North Lethbridge Regional Park 99 9.2. Master Plan Consultation 99 9.2.1. Household Survey 100 9.2.2. Community Groups Survey 123 9.2.3. Stakeholder Interviews 129 9.2.4. Others 130 10.0 The State of Recreation and Culture in Lethbridge 131 10.1. Gap Analysis—Service Delivery 137 10.2. Gap Analysis—Overall Recreation and Culture Infrastructure 140 10.3. Gap Analysis—Indoor Facilities 142 10.4. Gap Analysis—Outdoor Facilities 144 10.5. GAP Analysis—Programs and Opportunities 145 Appendices 147 Appendix A—Facility Provision Comparison Appendix B—Household Survey Instrument Appendix C—Group Survey Participants Appendix D—Organizations Interviewed [ v ] 1.0Introduction Recreation and culture services (facilities and programs) From the municipal point of view it is the Recreation and Culture are significant contributors to people’s quality of life. In fact Department that is primarily responsible for municipal recreation ninety-four percent (94%) of Albertans say that having a wide and culture provision in Lethbridge. The Department’s mission variety of cultural activities and events makes Alberta a better is to… “facilitate the provision of recreational and cultural place to live1. Further, 92% of Lethbridge residents said that opportunities that contribute to the personal well-being and recreation and parks facilities and services are important quality of life of our community.”3 components to improve their quality of life2. Recreation and culture services can also positively impact community As part of the work to fulfill its mission, the Department cohesiveness and strengthen family bonds. A community with commissioned the completion of a Recreation and Culture a plethora of these quality of life services is one that is healthy, Master Plan. The Master Plan will provide a road map for the diverse, and vibrant. Likewise these services can help attract next 10 years guiding the City (Council and administration) new residents (and businesses) to the community and retain in the provision of these services. In order to develop this current residents. Master Plan however a significant amount of research needed to be undertaken in order to understand the current context Residents of Lethbridge have a wealth of recreation and culture and plan for the future. This “State of Recreation and Culture services at their disposal. These services range from large in Lethbridge” document presents this information—the indoor venues (e.g. the ENMAX Centre) to small neighbourhood foundation upon which the Master Plan will be developed. parks. There is variety as well in terms of the parties providing the services. The City of Lethbridge provides many of the This Master Plan should help the Recreation and Culture recreation and culture facilities and some programming. Department Achieve its vision of a “...healthy integrated Community partners, not-for-profit agencies, and the private community engaged in diverse recreation and cultural sector also provide facilities; they also manage some City opportunities”4. facilities. These same parties also provide the bulk of the programming in Lethbridge. 1. Albertans’ Perceptions of Culture & Quality of Life Survey 2005. Ipsos-Reid 3. Recreation & Culture Business Plan 2012–2014. 2. Alberta Recreation Survey, Summary of Results—Lethbridge. 2008 4. Ibid [ 1 ] 2.0Process Overview and Methodology The development of the Master Plan involves a significant Secondary research for the project included: amount of information gathering. This research is critical » Information gathering from comparable communities in order to understand the context within which the Master regarding facility and services inventories; Plan will be developed. This document contains the detailed » Utilization information for recreation and culture facilities information gathered during the research phase of the project (where available); and is presented in this document according to research activity. This document will serve as the reference point from » Analysis of provincially collected data describing municipal which the Master Plan will be developed. expenditures; » A review of recreation, arts & culture, leisure and community The following primary and secondary research activities were program industry publications; and undertaken; their findings are presented in this document: » A review of pertinent municipal and provincial planning documentation.