A majority of Port Moody residents who participated in a survey about the city’s recreational facilities want an indoor swimming or leisure pool.
The survey, which received 442 responses, was conducted last fall as part of the public engagement component of a feasibility study Port Moody will use to craft its new parks and recreation master plan. The city also hosted sounding boards that collected more than 600 comments, a youth summit, discussions with community groups and committees as well as a poll of user groups.
A public engagement report, that was prepared by RC Strategies and is to be presented to council on Tuesday, Jan. 28, said while 65 per cent of the survey’s respondents said they are somewhat or very satisfied with the overall recreational opportunities in Port Moody, 61 per cent indicated the city’s indoor and outdoor recreation facilities are inadequate.
More than half of the respondents — 53 per cent — said Port Moody needs an indoor pool to accommodate lane swimming. lessons and aquafit, and 49 per cent said they’d like a leisure pool that includes various water play features.
Of the comments left on the sounding boards posted at city hall, the report said, “there is a strong desire for an indoor pool in Port Moody,” as well as an additional ice rink.
Residents who responded to the survey also identified swimming lessons as the programming most desired to be developed or enhanced, especially for children.
The need for an indoor pool was less enthusiastic among the 19 user groups that were consulted. Instead, six said the city requires more ice arena facilities to accommodate hockey, figure skating, ball hockey and lacrosse. and three expressed a desire for indoor multi-sport facilities for sports like indoor soccer, ball hockey, lacrosse and even roller derby.
A key theme from the engagement activities, said the report, “was the belief that facility development has not kept pace with growth and evolution of the community.”
The feasibility study of Port Moody’s recreation needs is scheduled to be presented to council in the spring.
📣 Got an opinion on this story or any others in the Tri-Cities? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].
📲 Want to stay updated on Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
💬 Words missing in an article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
