Port Coquitlam residents wanting get a workout, go for a swim or take a spin on the ice will soon have more time at the downtown community centre.
On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the city’s recreation staff said the Port Coquitlam Community Centre (PCCC) will extend its hours of operation on April 2 from:
- 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Monday to Friday
- 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday
The move, designed to better customer experience at the new facility, matches hours of operation changes at the Hyde Creek Recreation Centre that went into effect Jan. 1.
Rec demand up
Civic staff say the decision to stay open longer is to meet demand at the two recreation venues.
According to numbers that went before the city’s committee of council, participation in registered drop-in programs at PCCC and Hyde Creek shot up 35 per cent last year, and continues to trend high. For registered programs, the uptick was seven per cent in 2023.
The weight room at PCCC sees about 400 visitors a day while, at Hyde Creek, it’s 175 users daily.
The PCCC arenas have also been fully booked since January, with skating field trips proving to be successful for PoCo schools.
As for the PCCC pool, it’s scheduled to reopen before spring break following structural repairs; the Centennial Pool and spray parks are expected to open May 1.
In addition, the city’s Beyond the Bell after-school programs for youth will be expanded from six to eight schools this fall.
As well, the PCCC concession point-of-purchase terminals will be replaced with Squares this spring, city staff said.
The committee heard the recreation department's verbal presentation after reviewing the public comments on the draft 2024 Budget. The feedback showed a strong demand for recreation programs and servicing in Port Coquitlam.
Mayor Brad West said the community input aligns with council’s decisions “to see us do more … There’s a big appetite.”
Meanwhile, Coun. Nancy McCurrach, PoCo’s designate for the Wilson Seniors Association, requested more programming for 50+ residents at Hyde Creek.
