The State of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Research Report Final (May 2017) The State of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Research Report Final (May 2017) Table of Contents 1: Introduction 1 2: Community Context 3 Community Description 3 Population Analysis 4 3: Background Review 6 Local Context 6 Municipal Development Plan (2016 Consolidation) 6 Intermunicipal Development Plan (2016) 7 Community Visioning 2014 7 Community Sustainability Plan (2016 – 2019) 9 Growth Study and Financial Assessment (2014) 9 Okotoks Outdoor Recreation Facility Master Plan (2006) 9 Town of Okotoks Transportation Master Plan Update (2016) 10 Foothills Regional Indoor Field House Feasibility Study (2009) 11 Town of Okotoks Social Wellness Framework (2010) 11 Town of Okotos 2014 Community Household Survey Final Report 12 Town of Okotoks Urban Forest Management Plan (2013) 12 Town of Okotoks Community Report 2013 12 Okotoks 2015 Active Transportation Strategy 13 Town of Okotoks Culture, Heritage + Arts Master Plan 2010 – 2030 13 Provincial Context 14 Active Alberta 14 National Context 15 A Framework for Recreation in Canada 2015: Pathways to Wellbeing 15 Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L) 16 Table of Contents 4: The Benefits of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure 17 National Benefits HUB: The Benefits of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure 17 5: Trends and Leading Practices 20 Participation 20 Physical Activity and Wellness Levels 20 Physical Activity Preferences 21 Balancing Structured and Spontaneous Uses 24 Flexibility and Adaptability 24 Barriers to Participation 24 Providing Recreation Opportunities 25 Partnerships 25 Social Inclusion 25 Community Development 26 Financial Barriers 26 Volunteerism 27 Infrastructure 28 Aging Infrastructure 28 Multi-Use Spaces 28 Integrating Indoor and Outdoor Environments 28 Ensuring Accessibility 28 Social Amenities 28 Urban Parks Systems 29 Providing Quality Parks and Outdoor Spaces 29 Active Transportation 29 Preserving Heritage and Culture 30 Recreational Use of Natural Water Bodies 30 Table of Contents 6: Inventory 31 Inventory Overview 31 Indoor Infrastructure 32 Okotoks Recreation Centre 32 Crescent Point Regional Field House 33 Pason Centennial Arena 33 Parks and Outdoor Amenities 33 Pathway System 34 Regional Inventory 35 7: Utilization 36 Aquatics 36 Arenas 36 Curling Rink 37 Gymnasium Spaces 37 Crescent Point Regional Field House 37 Ball Diamonds 38 Rectangular Fields 38 8: Service Delivery 39 Direct Programming 39 Public Access to Facilities 40 Infrastructure 41 Partnerships 41 Parks, Pathways, and Open Spaces 41 Fee Assistance 41 Table of Contents 9: Benchmarking 42 Indoor Inventory 43 Number of Indoor Facilities 43 Indoor Provision Ration Comparison 43 Outdoor Inventory 44 Number of Outdoor Amenities 44 Outdoor Provision Ration Comparison 44 10: Consultation 45 Consultation Overview 45 Household Survey 46 Community Group Survey 59 Stakeholder Interviews 63 11: Summary 65 12: Preliminary Infrastructure Priorities 67 Preliminary Indoor Priorities 67 Preliminary Outdoor Priorities 68 Appendices A: Household Survey Questionnaire 70 B: Community Group Survey Questionnaire 78 C: Community Group Survey Participant List 83 D: Stakeholder Interview Participant List 84 One Introduction Of the three levels of planning outlined below (strategic, tactical, and project), the Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Master Plan is a strategic planning document that sets direction for years to come. The planning of specific facilities, parks, and programs, for example, will occur at the tactical and project planning levels; the Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Master Plan provides a foundation for such subsequent projects. Sets direction creates framework/system. Strategic Planning MDPs, Strategic Plans, Master Plans Long-term Provides denition, assesses impact. Tactical Planning Feasibility Studies, Business Plans Short/mid-term Denes implementation/action. Project Planning Design, Construction, Operations Immediate The Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Master Plan process consists of two documents: The State of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure in Okotoks and the Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Master Plan. The State of Recreation, Parks, Recreation, Parks, and Leisure and Leisure Master Plan Research Report Strategic Direction 1 The State of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure in Okotoks is a research report that initiates the Master Plan process. Before strategic direction can be set, information about the municipality must be gathered and analyzed. Each component of the research report is described and justified in the following chart. 1 6 Overview of Okotoks and Presents utilization data from Community its demographics. Town supported recreation, park, and leisure spaces Context To set the context for the Utilization research and plan. To measure the extent to which current spaces are utilized. 7 2 Review of previous Outlines the Town's current practices in programming and space allocation. Background planning eorts. Review To ensure the Master Plan Service Delivery To understand the Town's current is in alignment. role in providing recreation, parks, and leisure services. 3 8 Outlines eight key benets of Compares infrastructure inventory in Okotoks to ve "similar" municipalities. The Benefits recreation, parks, and leisure. Benchmarking To identify potential gaps of Recreation To further justisfy investment in these services. in infrastructure. 9 Presents ndings of the 4 Discussion on trends and household survey, group survey, and stakeholder interviews Trends and leading practices. Consultation To understand the needs of local Leading Practices To learn what is happening in other Alberta municipalities and beyond. residents and service providers. 10 Based on the consultation results 5 (community demand), a preliminary A list of Okotoks' current list of infrastructure priorities are indoor and outdoor Preliminary set forth . recreation infrastructure. Infrastructure Inventory To initiative further analysis of To identify the spaces in which Priorities these priorities (which occurs in residents currenty use for the Master Plan document) . recreation and leisure participation. 2 Two Community Context Community Description1 Key Findings The Town of Okotoks is located in the Sheep River Valley of the • The median age of residents in Okotoks is younger Alberta Foothills. With a population of 28,016 (2015), Okotoks is than provincial and national averages (72% of the close to many destinations such as the larger centre of Calgary population is under 40 years of age). There are also and its airport as well as Banff and the Rocky Mountains. About slightly more people per household compared 50% of Okotoks’ work force is employed in Calgary with the to the provincial average, suggesting a higher other half working in the Okotoks and Foothills region. proportion of families. The Town’s top employment sectors are education, construction, • The Town of Okotoks Growth Study and Financial industrial, professional and technical services, retail, commercial, Assessment (2014) projects a 2073 population of 82,152. and home-based businesses. As a regional centre of trade activity • The current trade area of Okotoks is estimated for aapproximately 85,000 people, Okotoks services the likes of at 85,000 people (includes Okotoks, High River, High River, Black Diamond, Turner Valley, Vulcan, Nanton and Black Diamond, Turner Valley, Vulcan, Nanton, the M.D. of Foothills. A multitude of highway options adds to and rural areas). the Town’s accessibility. Highway 2 allows quick access north to Calgary (20 km) and south to Lethbridge (170 km). Highway • South Calgary has experienced rapid growth in 2A leads to High River (20 km) while Highway 7 and 22 allows recent years both in terms of residents and services. transport to Turner Valley (25 km). Growth of South Calgary and other regional municipalities will continue to increase Okotoks With a young population, Okotoks has 13 preschools, five elementary trading and service area. schools, two junior high schools, two regional high schools, • As the community grows, it is expected that the two private schools, and one kindergarten to grade 9 school. population will continue to diversify in terms of ethnicity, social economics, and other characteristics. 1 Population data and characteristics from the Okotoks Fact File 2016. 3 Population Analysis Okotoks is a young and prosperous community. Its median age of 34.1 is 6 years younger than the national median. There are slightly more people per household compared to the provincial average, suggesting a higher proportion of families. • Population (2015): 28,016 • Percent Growth (from 2014 to 2015): 2.5% • Median Age: (2011): 34.1 • Average Number of People per Household (2011): 2.9 • Median After-Tax Family Income (2010): $87,821. This is higher than the provincial median ($80,271) • Percentage of the population under the age of 45: 75% • Seven-point-four percent (7.4%) of Okotoks’ population (2011) is above the age of 64 (the provincial proportion is 11.1%) • Accoring to the 2011 National Household Survey (Statistics Canada), 11% of Okotoks’ residents are immigrants—the majority of whom (72%) are from Europe • Approximately 50% of the Town’s workforce is employed in Calgary • The Town of Okotoks Growth Study and Financial Assessment (2014) projects a 2073 population of 82,152 residents • The top employment sectors in Okotoks are education, construction, industrial, professional and technical services, retail, commercial, and home-based businesses • Fifty-three percent (53%)1