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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks & Leisure Services Annual Report 2011Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services ANNUAL REPORT2011 Commission 2011 The Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services Commission consists of 15 voting members with three representatives from each of Maple Ridge Council, Pitt Meadows Council and the Board of Trustees of School District No. 42. In addition, there are four Citizen-at-Large Members from Maple Ridge and two from Pitt Meadows. The Commission serves the communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows and is guided by the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Joint Leisure Services Agreement. The purpose of the Commission is to function as an independent policy making body. The Commission has the responsibility for the direct delivery of leisure services to residents and, for entering into agreements and contractual obligations within the limitations of approved budgets to deliver services through various groups, agencies and businesses. 2 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 3 Thank you to the following members for their dedicated service in 2011: 2011 Commission Members District of Maple Ridge Ernie Daykin, Mayor Michael Morden, Councillor Craig Speirs, Councillor Judy Dueck, Councillor (Alternate) City of Pitt Meadows Don MacLean, Mayor Doug Bing, Councillor Gwen O’Connell, Councillor Deb Walters, Councillor(Alternate) Board of Education Ken Clarkson, Trustee (Chair) Mike Huber, Trustee Eleanor Palis, Trustee Stepan Vdovine, Trustee (Alternate) District of Maple Ridge Citizen-At-Large Members Ian Brown Tyler Shymkiw Bonny Klovance Mandeep Bhuller City of Pitt Meadows Citizen-At-Large Members Christine Smith Terri Smith 4 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services General Manager’s Report Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services is made up of four service areas: • Administration • Community Services • Parks, Facilities & Open Space • Recreation Community consultation during the development of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan defined values as: A Connected, Collaborative and Energized Community Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 5 General Manager’s Report Connected Community This relates to the interactions people have with each other. • We encourage and support a sense of social well-being and a sense of belonging. • We thrive on diversity, and we support inclusiveness by making all feel welcome and able to participate. Inclusiveness means: inter- generational, multicultural, and those with a range of abilities and financial means. • We assist in building strong networks to encourage group and agency collaboration. • We support volunteerism and leadership development due to the multiple individual and community benefits. • We invite public input and strive to hear, understand, and act upon the needs expressed in our community. Collaborative Community This relates to people working with each other towards a common goal. • We believe in efficiency, accountability, and coordination. • We are committed to cooperation, leading to integration for the greater good. • We value our partnerships, sharing, and social entrepreneurship. • We engage in capacity-building in order to nurture leadership. • We model and encourage contributing, listening, respect, transparency, and openness. 6 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services General Manager’s Report Energized Community This relates to people being active and engaged in their community. • We encourage and support health and wellness, and active living. • We ensure physical accessibility to minimize barriers to participation. • We support our citizens in engagement and participation as tools towards skill development and self-empowerment. • We provide diverse opportunities, hoping to instill enthusiasm, passion, and enchantment. • We model and encourage stewardship and community pride. • We model and share the values of creativity, awareness, and forward-thinking. The community has expressed a strong interest in fostering a sense of community, and with this in mind, our goal is to promote and support a healthy, safe and sustainable community where we are active participants in a wide range of recreation and cultural activities, working together to build our individual strengths, create a sense of commu- nity, respect and protect our valuable natural assets and achieve our environmental responsibilities. “...a vibrant community where young families would like to live and where they and their children will find the facilities and the services that meet their needs.” - Resident Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 7 Proportions of Households that use:2002 2005 2008 2011 Parks 62%68%81%81% Trails & Dykes 62%68%76%81% The ACT 36%33%49%50% Maple Ridge Planet Ice 41%46%46%45% Pitt Meadows Arena 41%32%30%32% Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre 20%24%26%26% Maple Ridge Leisure Centre 59%63%67%68% Ridge Meadows Seniors Activity Centre N/A 7%13%14% Citizens that rate Parks and Leisure Services as excellent or good for: 2002 2005 2008 2011 Quality 75%82%80%81% Satisfaction 80%86%80%84% General Manager’s Report In 2011, Parks & Leisure Services conducted its Citizen Satisfaction Survey. The survey is completed on a three year cycle; the core objec- tives of this research are to measure residents’ usage of, and assess satisfaction with, the parks and recreation programs and facilities provided by the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Ser- vices Department. Findings from the Citizen Satisfaction Survey speak to an increasing in- terest in outdoor recreation including gardening. Two-thirds of resi- dents use walking and/or hiking as their main form of exercise; be- cause of this, access to paths and trails was determined as important to 87% of residents. Another reason outdoor recreation opportunities are important to residents is an increasing need for no-cost/low-cost recreation choices. 8 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services Administration The Community Development Parks and Recreation Services Division’s role is to ensure planning and coordination of resources in the management and development of parks, facility operations, and delivery of recreation and cultural services in addition to providing opportunities that build individual, neighbourhood and community capacity by connecting citizens and groups, sharing information, developing resources and facilitating planning that supports community-driven efforts to build community capacity and assets. Identified community needs are addressed by a variety of approaches from the direct provision of services to establishing partnerships that leverage expertise and funding from other sources. In addition, we are responsible for carrying out corporate initiatives as directed by Councils and Senior Managment Teams. We also attend to inquiries and requests for assistance from fellow staff, Council members, and the general public. The Division’s operating model is underpinned by a network of partnerships with local volunteer and not for profit groups that provide a recreation service to the community, businesses that provide a specialized recreation or park services and agencies that have a common interest in providing parks, recreation and cultural services to the community. Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 9 Administration 2011 at a Glance 2011 was a year of ceremonies and celebration. We celebrated the 10th anniversary of the award winning Greg Moore Youth Centre, the 30th anniversary of the Maple Ridge Leisure Centre and the opening of several facilities: • South Bonson Community Centre • Newly renovated Pitt Meadows Arena • Pitt Meadows Youth Action Park (The Pitt) • Vernon Trail Bridge • North Alouette Regional Greenway Bridge Several projects were completed that demonstrate our commitment to the community and our effort to incorporate community values of connected, collaborative and energized into quality services: • Reported on the scope, benefits and efficiencies of the Master Agree- ment with School District No. 42. • Conducted Citizen Satisfaction Survey. • Established a new operating agreement for the Pitt Meadows Arena. 10 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services Administration Looking Forward to 2012 The 2012 business plan reflects immediate priority focus areas drawn from the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan, which was constructed through an extensive community consultation process and adopted by both Councils and Commission in 2010. The following focus areas will guide a number of staff projects in the coming year: • Increase residents access to and use of paths and trails by improving trail connections, developing new trail promotion methods, and establishing an enhanced trail management strategy. • Establish a neighbourhood development framework that includes education, enhanced communication systems with neighbourhoods, and support for emerging neighbourhood groups. • Continue to support festival development by hosting a Festival Forum in each community to establish goals and actions that will continue to build the capacity, success and sustainability of our volunteer festival community and their relationships with business and sponsors. • Collaborate with community agencies to expand connections and services for families with a low income to ensure that all residents have access to low-cost recreation opportunities. Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 11 Community Services Community Services recognizes the important role that neighbourhoods play in overall community health and wellness. Neighbourhood Services supports neighbourhood development by providing support to, and con- tributing to, community wide initiatives. Youth Services oversees the Greg Moore and Pitt Meadows Youth Centres and provides recreational program services for preschool children (0-5 years), school age children (6-12 years), and youth (13-18 years) through- out Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Programming utilizes a benefit-based approach with a focus on active living and leadership development. As concerns grow regarding inactivity levels and the effects of the growing number of children living in poverty, part- nerships have been developed to offer programming within a collaborative framework increasing the department’s ability to respond to the growing needs of these age groups. Grant Agency Amount Active Kids Club SD 42 Community Links $20,417 Active Kids Club: Child Care Operating Fund Ministry of Children & Family Development $20,265 Active Kids Club - Before School Funding SD 42 $7,175 Active Kids Club: Support Workers Funding RM Association for Com- munity Living $31,543 Easter Event Pitt Meadows Lions Club $2,455 Noon Hour Recreation RM Hospital Foundation $4,480 Summer Camp Staff Wages Service Canada $55,141 Summer Staff Wages Greg Moore Foundation $11,622 Total $178,498 Facility User Hours Greg Moore Youth Centre 44,834 Pitt Meadows Youth Centre 24,842 Whonnock Elementary 1,271 Thomas Haney Skate Park 5,262 12 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services Community Services 2011 at a Glance Neighbourhood Services Our focus continues to support initiatives that promote a healthy and active community. Key projects that demonstrate this commitment included: • Over 30 neighbourhood grants awarded throughout both communities. • Addition of five neighbourhood school gardens. • Expanded Farmers Market, to include a second location at Pitt Meadows Spirit Square. • A pilot presentation by Jim Diers to staff and the community focusing on the importance of “Neighbourhood Power”. This has led to continued work in 2012 by energizing both community and staff alike by providing the tools needed to participate in community development. Youth Services The provision of active and social recreational services is one of the building blocks in the foun- dation of healthy child development and a key component to quality of life for a community. Key projects that demonstrate our commitment to supporting this population in developing life skills through active and social recreation programming included: • Introduced a barrier-free noon hour program focusing on healthy living, in partnership with School District No. 42. • Introduced pre-teen Adventure Summer Camps. • Introduced New Youth Drop-In program at South Bonson Community Centre. • Completed consultation and design process of Pitt Meadows Youth Park. Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 13 Community Services Looking Forward to 2012 Neighbourhood Services • Engage HIVE neighbourhood stakeholders and support leadership development involvement in: • Neighbourhood garden planning process • After school and evening programming • Work with neighbourhood champions to design and implement a new communication strategy both within and between neighbourhoods and municipalities. • Liaise with Katzie Youth workers to explore a combined youth drop-in program at South Bonson. “Gardens foster healthier, more socially responsible communities .” - Resident Youth Services • Work with Parks staff to identify neighbourhood park planning processes and support youth participation for: • Mountain Bike Skills Park • Firefighters Park • Expand Girls Only programming to additional elementary schools. • Support RCMP Community Resource Officers in expanding joint recreation drop-in programs. • Increase opportunities for recreation participation through community subsidy programs. 14 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services Recreation The Recreation Department operates public facilities and a broad range of recreation programs and services in collaboration with community organizations and agencies such as the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Arts Council Society, the Ridge Meadows Seniors Centre Society, Museum and Heritage Societies, School District No. 42, not for profit groups, and the business community. Facilities include multi-use fitness and aquatic centres, seniors’ recreation centres, ice arenas, library, the Arts Centre and Theatre, community halls and the curling club. Programs include drop-in or pre-registered arts and culture, aquatic, fitness, skating and others. Services include recreation access programs, volunteer development, festival development, and community planning tables for healthy community initiatives, as well as administrative duties such as facility rentals and ice scheduling. Grants Agency Amount Cultural Mapping Legacies Now $8,000 Equipment Funding Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion $2,544 Integrated Daycamp Support Ministry of Children & Family Development $43,137 Maple Ridge Canada Day Heritage Canada $1,200 Mental Health Coordinator Fraser Health Authority $42,808 Pitt Meadows Canada Day Heritage Canada $1,000 Summer Camp Staff Funding Service Canada $60,415 Total $159,104 Facility User Hours Leisure Centre 498,256 Family Recreation Centre 113,911 Harris Road Pool 5,111 Hammond Pool 2,614 Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 15 Recreation 2011 at a Glance The Recreation Department recognizes the positive impact that active participation in recreation programs has on a person’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. Our aim is to encourage all citizens to lead a healthy, active lifestyle by ensuring that all activities are fun, safe and accessible. Key projects that demonstrate our focus of providing residents of all ages with opportunities to get active and be connected within their community included: • Conducted a cultural mapping process identifying the community’s strengths and resources by collecting, recording, analyzing and synthesizing our cultural assets. • Hosted the 1st Annual Sport and Recreation Expo at the Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre. • Completed Public Art policies for Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. • Participated in a voluntary Aquatic Lifesaving audit to incorporate best practicies into operations. “Art is everywhere in our community; it has no boundaries, no social status.” - Unknown 16 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services RecreationLooking Forward to 2012 • Conduct a needs assessment of programs at Recreation facilities and satellite locations. • Identify two neighbourhoods with low participation and develop and implement a targeted marketing program designed to increase opportunities within the neighbourhood. • Work with neighbourhoods to identify safe, walkable routes for no-cost fitness opportunities. • Develop a public art inventory including maintenance programs for collections in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. • Review both community websites; work with Communication departments to develop strategies for improved Parks & Leisure Services website presence. “The community development approach is about creating opportunities for increasing individual and community capacities.” - Resident Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 17 Parks, Facilities & Open Space The Parks, Facilities & Open Space Department, (PFOS), is responsible for operating the Municipal parks system, which includes actively used parkland, sport fields, and a substantial number of green-belt areas and trail networks. In cooperation with the Recreation Department, PFOS provides operational services to a number of facilities including the Leisure Centre, Greg Moore Youth Centre, Pitt Meadows Family Recreation Centre, two outdoor pools and several community halls. Other facilities, including the public library, the Arts Centre Theatre, two museums, two arenas, a golf course, and numerous historic sites are operated by partner organizations. Services not cost-shared with Pitt Meadows include overseeing the maintenance of all municipal facilities including Municipal Hall, Fire Halls and Public Safety buildings. As well as the operation and maintenance of two Municipal cemeteries including interment services, record keeping and public assistance. Facility Inventory Softball/Baseball Fields 44 Soccer Fields (full)29 Synthetic Fields 3 Trails 150km Parks, Recreation & Cultural Facilties 110 Proportions of households that use:2002 2005 2008 2011 Sports Fields N/A 39%43%42% “We love the lifestyle we have found in this community.” - Resident Parks, Facilities & Open Space 2011 at a Glance Parks As our communities grow, so do the needs of our residents for amenities within their neighbourhood. Our goal is to ensure that citizens have access to clean, safe parks and spaces to relax, play and enjoy. Projects that demonstrate our commitment to this included: • 224th & Memorial Peace Park development. • Completion of Harris Road Master Plan. • Webster’s Corners Park development. • New washrooms installed at Maple Ridge Park. Facilities The management and maintenance of municipally owned infrastructure including Facility Infrastructure Reserve Fund, Capital Asset replacement projects and Preventative Maintenance Management programs are the focus of our facilities team. • Water circulation and deck replacement at Harris Outdoor Pool. • New elevator and pool changerooms at Leisure Centre. • Pitt Meadows Arena upgrade. “We love the lifestyle we have found in this community.” - Resident 18 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services | ANNUAL REPORT 2011 19 Parks, Facilities & Open Space Looking Forward to 2012 Parks • Engage residents through a community consultation process for the following park developments: • Firefighters Park • Haney Nokai Park • Deer Fern Park • Cedar Park • Install Outdoor Fitness Circuits at: • Hoffman Park • MacLean Park • Webster’s Corners Facilities • Implement accessibility options at outdoor pools. • Remove and replace exterior windows at Heritage Hall. • Coordinate Haney House carpet and flooring. “We nurture and grow ‘wonder’ by protecting our highly diverse natural world.” - Resident 18 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 | Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks & Leisure Services Partnerships The community development model practiced by Parks and Leisure Services is dependant on the strong relationships we form. We would like to extend our thanks to our community partners for our collective success: Alouette River Management Society Amateur Sports Organizations Community Associations Community Festival Organizations Eagles Club Fraser Health Authority Grant Partners Greg Moore Foundation Haney Horsemen Haney Rotary Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society Katzie First Nation Kiwanis Club Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Agriculture Association Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Arts Council Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Foundations Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Katzie Community Network Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Lions Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Volunteer Centre Mapel Ridge & Pitt Meadows Youth Centre Society Maple Ridge Historical Society Meadowridge Rotary Metro Vancouver Parks Neighbourhood Associations Pitt Meadows Heritage & Museum Society Ridge Meadows Seniors Society Royal Canadian Legion School District No. 42 Silver Valley Parks United Way