With yet another sports group showing interest in creating a new venue, in this case within Canmore’s rec centre, it should be pointed out that the Town’s draft Recreation Master Plan is due this year.
Being that it’s been a decade since the last RMP saw the light of day, we feel it might have been wise for the Town to hold off on consideration of new recreation possibilities until the document is out for public consumption.
Not that we have anything against a squash group identifying the former gymnastics space as an ideal location for present and future growth for their sport, but if everything within the town is settled, recreation-wise, what will have been the point of developing a master plan?
In a project summary for the RMP, it was stated the plan should identify needs and gaps in facilities, programs or services and then recommend strategies and priorities for enhancements.
However, since the last plan, a new arena was built to keep the hockey/speed skating crowd on blades, Elevation Place has been developed, creating a home for the indoor climbing community, a new home for the swimming community and a new home for a portion of the arts community (CAG gallery). Since the last plan, the old pool has been put out of action, but is slated to be a new home for the gymnastics community. Tennis has approached the Town for expanded facilities, minor soccer expressed interest in the possibility of a year-round bubble facility being created at Millennium Park, the arts community has seen millions in Town funding granted for artsPlace, roller derby would like a home ... The list goes on.
These projects range in cost from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars – and most have been put in place between RMPs, on a case-by-case basis.
So really, what’s left?
Some groups, like minor soccer, remain on the outside looking in, while other groups, privately-run gyms, for example, are having issues with the Town expanding its fitness offerings.
In fact, the bricks and mortar fitness community, as it has come to be called, is feeling effects from the success of Elevation Place, including its already-expanded-since-opening fitness gym. The facility is a success in terms of exceeding expectations for revenue and membership, with the gym offerings being a major draw. At the time of approval, the model for running Elevation Place, when we still called it the multiplex, was an enterprise model.
It has been such a success administration has presented the model at several conferences. But it is that very model that resulted in a recommendation to council to approve $35,000 in the 2015 budget in equipment for the fitness areas (now in more than one room upstairs) – one of the reasons the private fitness community is raising concerns. The other is the space squash is considering as a possible home.
It is clear Canmore needs to plan its recreation future – we are a recreational community – and as a focus for 2015 any more ad hoc projects are premature.
But is it also clear to those in charge that the plan may also need to address how recreation is provided by the municipality and how much, if any, competition with the private sector is palatable?
