Outdoor Recreation and Open Spaces Master Plan Key Findings
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Outdoor Recreation and Open Spaces Master Plan Key Findings Outdoor recreation is important to 98% of Brazeau region survey respondents Background In 2014, Brazeau County, though its Community Services Department, embarked on an initiative to develop a master plan for outdoor recreation and open spaces. The Eagle Point and Blue Rapids Parks Council was contracted to lead the plan for the benefit of the region’s residents and businesses. Summary The Brazeau County Outdoor Recreation and Open Spaces Master Plan adopted a visionary yet practical approach and philosophy to guide outdoor recreation and open space planning in Brazeau County today and for the next ten years. The Master Plan is a County initiative that will provide the County with guidance and specific and general action options to develop a system of trails, campgrounds, day-use areas, other outdoor recreation facilities and managed open spaces for the benefit of residents and visitors alike. This Master Plan is a resource for the community and is an outcome of Brazeau County Council’s implementation of relevant sections of the 2011 Municipal Development Plan and a logical next step further to the 2010 Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Master Plan, an earlier effort that provided some solid background information such as community consultations and general directions for moving forward. At the heart of this Master Plan is a vision that provides the long term guidance necessary to achieve a desired system of outdoor recreation opportunities and open spaces management: Brazeau County is a place where high quality outdoor recreational facilities, services and open spaces increase the quality of life, protect the environment while promoting economic development, and make the Brazeau region a desirable place to live, work, play and stay. The main elements of the Master Plan include: 1. An inclusive and public engagement program that achieved community-focused direction; 2. A review of existing plans, surveys and policies that influence this Master Plan; 3. A review of the natural setting of Brazeau County, including opportunities and constraints; 4. A review of existing outdoor recreation facilities; 1 5. Options for specific capital and operational projects that focus on incremental and partnership developments over 1, 4 and 10 years. Community consultation was the most important method of information collection to inform the recommendations in this Outdoor Recreation and Open Space Master Plan. The community groups consulted included: General Public, County Council and Administration, Non-Profit Recreation Organizations and Clubs, Community Hall Associations, and Campground Operators. The methods of consultations included: recreation satisfaction and planning surveys, information booths at community events, organization-specific consultations, and community association- specific consultations. The consultations informed the content of this Plan. By talking to and getting residents input through the public engagement program, the Master Plan was able to make many recommendations for specific facilities and programs, including: - Trails: such as walking trails, ATV trails, equestrian trails; - Campgrounds: including ATV-friendly campground; RV campgrounds; primitive, walk- in/paddle to campgrounds; - Day-use picnic areas: that includes picnic tables, fire pits and garbage receptacles; - Boat launches: on the North Saskatchewan and Pembina Rivers; - Community trout pond and pheasant release area; - Parks, Natural Areas and provincial crown lands program - Reserve and easement program - Volunteer private lands stewardship and access program; - Community hall associations and volunteer organizations support program; - Tourism, marketing, and outreach program; - New and amendments to County policies and by-laws. The Master Plan recognizes that natural systems and outdoor recreational interests do not respect man-made boundaries, such as county and municipal boundaries. Consequently, working closely with and cooperatively with adjacent jurisdictions to ensure the continuation of open spaces and outdoor recreation facilities in terms of trails, public access, landscapes and wildlife areas is critical to open spaces management and outdoor recreation. Options are summarized and priorized for ten-year, four-year and one-year implementation periods. Full implementation over ten years is estimated to cost $6,105,000 with partnership funding; the first four years is estimated to cost $3,680,000 with additional partnership funding, and; the first year is estimated to cost $725,000 ($430,000 for capital expenditures and $295,000 for operational expenditures) with additional partnership funding. It is important to note that although this plan makes trail, easement and stewardship suggestions regarding private lands, participation and therefore implementation is totally voluntary on behalf of the landowner. For example, conceptual “trails” in this plan are notional in that no access permissions from landowners have yet been obtained. It is important to note that this Master Plan should be a “living plan” in that it should be regularly reviewed and updated as new options arise or old options are rejected, as funding opportunities arise and disappear, and as County priorities evolve. 2 Community Engagement Process Community consultation was the most important method of information collection to inform the recommendations of this Outdoor Recreation and Open Space Master Plan. The list of organizations to be consulted was compiled through a review of all organizations related to recreation enjoyment in the County, and confirmation of the proposed list with Administration at Brazeau County. The community groups consulted have been assigned to the following broad categories: General Public County Council and Administration Non-Profit Recreation Organizations and Clubs Community Hall Associations Campground Operators Public input for the Outdoor Recreation and Open Space Master Plan was invited from all of these categories of community members during initial information gathering in 2014, and is recommended again in 2015, in the form of two open houses, after the May 12 workshop with Council. Key Findings: General Public Outdoor recreation is very important to 68%, and somewhat important to 30%, of survey respondents as compared to other interests. To the 58% of respondents that were residents of Brazeau County, outdoor recreation is also very important to 72%, and somewhat important to 27%, compared to other interests. Of those survey respondents that had an opinion, 64% felt there were insufficient campgrounds (57% of Brazeau County residents), 63% felt there were insufficient day-use areas (55% of Brazeau County residents), 56% felt there were insufficient trails and walkways (53% of Brazeau County residents). When given an open-ended opportunity to comment on future plans for outdoor recreation in Brazeau County, creating or improving trails was a common theme. Other common recommendations included new and improved outdoor facilities, more camping opportunities, and more sites to access and enjoy waterways. For Brazeau residents, more and improved ATV trails was also important. Conservation of wilderness areas and habitat was considered the most important use of facilities or open space in Brazeau County by all survey respondents and specifically by Brazeau County residents, followed by walking and cycling trails connecting rural residents to towns, villages and hamlets, and wilderness hiking trails (Brazeau County residents also ranked off-highway vehicle staging areas and trails of high importance). Walking and hiking for pleasure is the most frequent outdoor activity enjoyed by respondents, followed by off- highway vehicle use, campground camping and hunting and fishing. Walking trails are the most common facility used by survey respondents, followed by parks and natural areas, and community halls. For Brazeau County residents, community halls were the most common facility, followed by campgrounds, natural areas/park and walking trails. Of those survey respondents that had an opinion, they were least satisfied with organized outdoor facilities (e.g. sports fields, rinks), and secondarily least satisfied with campgrounds, 3 community halls and day-use areas in Brazeau County. Of those Brazeau County residents that had an opinion, they were similarly least satisfied with organized outdoor facilities (e.g. sports fields, rinks), and secondarily least satisfied with community halls and campgrounds. It is important to note that in both cases, satisfaction in all cases is high when combining “very satisfied” and “somewhat satisfied.” Survey respondents thought the least sufficient facilities in Brazeau County were campgrounds, boat launches, and day use areas. Brazeau County residents’ least sufficient facilities were primarily boat launches and secondarily, campgrounds, day-use areas and trails/walkways. Garbage cans, clean facilities, well maintained trails and facilities, and washrooms were the most important aspects of open spaces and facilities to survey respondents and for Brazeau County residents specifically. The greatest priorities for trails in Brazeau County were a) creating trail maps and advertising, b) developing new trails in new areas and creating linkages, and c) repairing existing trails. Residents of Brazeau County also felt that improved accessibility for persons with disabilities was also important. 82% of respondents camp with a travel trailer, 5th wheel or tent