Monday October 28, 2024 | COLWOOD, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Developing a recreation master plan is a front-burner project for the West Shore Parks & Recreation Society (WSPRS). They are seeking a consultant to help them develop the plan with a focus on collaboration among the five municipal owners.
The West Shore Parks & Recreation Society (WSPRS) in collaboration with their five municipal owners (Langford, Colwood, Metchosin, View Royal and Highlands) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a qualified consultant to assess the community’s growing recreational needs.
As the Westshore region continues to expand, the demand for improved recreational and sports facilities has increased. The recreation master plan will provide a strategic framework to address these needs and guide the region’s recreational development.
Population growth:
The Westshore is experiencing significant population growth, similar to what is being experienced across BC. BC’s population increased by about 300,000 people over the past few years.
That’s driving increased demand for recreational services and facilities.
Population growth also puts pressures on housing, schools, health-care and transportation.
Collaborative approach:
WSPR says that each municipality within the west shore region has historically managed its own recreation needs, aside from the facilities operated by WSPRS.
“But now there is now broad recognition that a unified strategic approach coordinated across municipal borders is essential to meet the evolving needs of the community,.” says Grant Brown, CEO, WSPR.
“In discussions amongst Westshore mayors and Chief Administrative Officers, there is broad agreement that recreation planning should be done collaboratively. This approach would ensure that the region has sufficient facilities that are properly located to serve the community without unnecessarily duplicating capacity.” says Brown.
The collaborative approach aligns with how most Westshore residents generally disregard municipal boundaries when choosing which facilities to use. “This highlights the need for a region-wide perspective on recreational services,” says Brown.
Evaluation and forecast:
The Recreation Master Plan aims to address these challenges by evaluating existing recreational assets, forecasting future needs, and providing recommendations for the strategic expansion of facilities and services.
“The undertaking of the master plan process highlights the exceptional collaboration between the five Westshore municipalities and will provide the community the opportunity to shape the next 10 to 20 years of recreational and sporting opportunities on the West Shore,” says Brown.
Scope of Work:
The selected consultant will be responsible for conducting a detailed inventory of existing recreational facilities within the Westshore and evaluating future requirements based on public consultations, input from major sports organizations and an analysis of best practices in community recreation planning.
Key deliverables include, but are not limited to:
- Current parks and recreation facility inventory on the Westshore
- An assessment of future recreational needs based on public and stakeholder consultations
- Forecasting of population growth and demographics over a 10-20 year horizon
- Suggested operating models for any new facilities
- General cost estimates for facility development and operational needs
- Options for operational agreements guiding the addition and funding of new facilities
- Recommendations for WSPRS organizational structure adjustments to meet future growth
Expected Outcomes:
The Recreation Master Plan will provide WSPRS Staff and Board with a clear understanding of existing assets, future recreational requirements and operational models to ensure efficient service delivery across the region.
The plan will emphasize regional collaboration to prevent duplication of facilities, ensure consistent service quality, and promote operational and financial efficiencies.
About:
Westshore Parks & Recreation is located at 1767 Island Highway, home to the Juan de Fuca Rec Centre and The Q Centre.
WSPR Society Board Chair is View Royal municipal councillor Damian Kowalewich.
Expression of Interest:
Qualified contractors who wish to express interest in bidding on this project may contact Grant Brown, Chief Administrative Officer, WSPR. Phone: 250-474-8607. Email: gbrown@wspr.ca .
===== RELATED:
More outdoor pickleball courts coming to Westshore Parks & Recreation (October 24, 2024)
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