2006CSR006 Attachment 2 Outdoor Aquatic Strategy 2008 - 2017 Transforming Edmonton Investing today to create the Edmonton of tomorrow 2006CSR006 Attachment 2 2006CSR006 Attachment 2 Outdoor Aquatic Strategy, 2008-2017 Table of Contents Section 1: Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 1.1. An Outdoor Aquatic Strategy for the City of Edmonton.....................................................1 1.2. Goal of the Outdoor Aquatic Strategy ...............................................................................2 1.3. Strategy Development Process.........................................................................................2 Section 2: The Planning Context.......................................................................................... 3 2.1. Council Direction and Related Legislation Impacting Outdoor Aquatics ...........................3 2.1.1. City Council's Strategic Planning Brief, 2007 ....................................................................................3 2.1.2. Medium Term Recreation Facility and Sports Field Plan, 2007.........................................................3 2.1.3. Urban Parks Management Plan, 2006-2016 .....................................................................................4 2.1.4. Pool Standards, 2006........................................................................................................................4 2.1.5. Recreation Facility Master Plan, 2005-2015......................................................................................4 2.1.6. Future Use of Outdoor Pools, 2005...................................................................................................5 2.2. Inventory of Outdoor Aquatic Amenities............................................................................5 2.3. Age and Operation of Existing Outdoor Aquatic Amenities.............................................10 2.3.1. Spray Parks and Spray Decks.........................................................................................................10 2.3.2. Wading Pools ..................................................................................................................................10 2.3.3. Outdoor Pools .................................................................................................................................11 2.4. Demographic Analysis and Population Forecasts...........................................................11 2.5. Aquatic Trends Shaping Service Delivery.......................................................................12 2.5.1. Awareness and Attendance.............................................................................................................12 2.5.2. Importance of Outdoor Amenities....................................................................................................12 2.5.3. Quality of Facilities ..........................................................................................................................12 2.5.4. Location Planning............................................................................................................................13 2.5.5. Changing Profile of Users................................................................................................................13 2.5.6. Urban Life and Use of Public Spaces..............................................................................................13 2.5.7. Neighbourhood Service Gaps .........................................................................................................13 2.5.8. Best in Class Experience.................................................................................................................14 2.5.9. Wise Use of Water Resources ........................................................................................................14 i 2006CSR006 Attachment 2 2.6. Innovation in Outdoor Aquatic Design.............................................................................15 2.6.1. Interactive Water Playgrounds ........................................................................................................15 2.6.2. Family-Oriented Interactive Parks ...................................................................................................17 2.6.3. Urban Beaches................................................................................................................................20 2.6.4. Water as Urban Art..........................................................................................................................21 2.6.5. Therapy and Wellness Pools...........................................................................................................22 2.6.6. Hybrid Outdoor Aquatic Facilities ....................................................................................................22 2.6.7. All Season Opportunities.................................................................................................................23 2.6.8. Sustainable Water Management Strategies ....................................................................................24 2.6.9. Outdoor Furniture, Showers and Shade Structures.........................................................................25 2.7. Public Support for Outdoor Aquatic Amenities................................................................26 2.7.1. Review of Strategy Direction ...........................................................................................................26 2.7.2. On-site Surveys with Adults.............................................................................................................28 2.7.3. On-site Surveys with Children .........................................................................................................28 2.7.4. Design Charrette .............................................................................................................................29 2.7.5. Urban Parks Management Plan Stakeholder Consultation .............................................................30 Section 3: An Outdoor Aquatic Strategy for Edmonton .................................................. 31 3.1. Strategy Framework........................................................................................................31 3.2. Community Outcomes.....................................................................................................32 Section 4: Recommendations for Implementing the Strategy ........................................ 33 4.1. Building a Network of Outdoor Aquatic Amenities and Facilities ....................................33 4.2. Incorporating Elements of Good Design .........................................................................34 4.3. Alignment with City Plans, Policies and Practices ..........................................................35 4.4. Parkland Development/Redevelopment with Partners....................................................36 Section 5: Recommendations for Neighbourhood Level Opportunities ........................ 37 5.1. Neighbourhood Level Scale ............................................................................................37 5.2. Eligibility for NPDP Funding ............................................................................................37 5.3. Wading Pool Rehabilitation and Conversions to Spray Decks........................................38 Section 6: Recommendations for District Level Opportunities ...................................... 39 6.1. District Level Scale..........................................................................................................39 6.2. Embracing the Social Heart of Communities ..................................................................40 6.3. Rehabilitation of Existing Spray Parks ............................................................................41 6.4. New Spray Parks ............................................................................................................41 6.5. Co-Locations with Multi-purpose Recreation Facilities ...................................................41 6.6. Rehabilitation of Existing Outdoor Pools.........................................................................42 ii 2006CSR006 Attachment 2 Section 7: Recommendations for City Level Opportunities............................................ 43 7.1. City Level Scale ..............................................................................................................43 7.2. Rehabilitation of City Level Wading Pools ......................................................................44 7.3. Feature Amenities in River Valley Parks.........................................................................44 7.4. Signature Outdoor Water Venues ...................................................................................45 Section 8: Recommendations for Funding the Strategy.................................................. 47 8.1. Capital and Operating Costs ...........................................................................................47 8.2. Funding the Outdoor Aquatic Strategy............................................................................48 8.2.1. Explore a Range of Funding Sources..............................................................................................48 8.2.2. Increased Funding