The results of the Poole Creek-D’Arcy corridor recreation survey are in, and lawmakers now await a consultant’s final analysis of the data to determine what type of facility the community could support.
The findings of an independent survey commissioned by the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) were turned in last month and presented for a few dozen residents at the N’Quatqua Hall on March 4.
The coming consultant’s report should help SLRD officials determine an ideal plan for the Gates Lake facility, which will be located on a property in Birken on the lake shore purchased earlier this year. The report is expected to contain an assessment of what kinds of facilities and programming area residents would support.
Opinions have been mixed over the past year — among both residents and politicians — about how the SLRD should proceed with a recreation site in the community. But the results of the survey, even though fewer than 100 were returned, provide an on-record assessment of recreation needs and concerns from those living in the region.
“It was good information,” said Area C director Susie Gimse, whose constituents were the ones surveyed. “There was strong support for something in the community that would provide a gathering place, when you look at the results in terms of what people want to do.”
Some findings were obvious, such as the distance to existing facilities being the largest barrier to recreating. Others were a bit of a surprise — more respondents said they used Whistler’s Meadow Park Sports Centre than the Pemberton Community Centre in the past year, for example.
But swimming was also the most common leisure activity during that period, and the Whistler facility houses the nearest indoor pool. Meanwhile, “outdoor water programs” was one of the three most popular answers to a question gauging interest in activities at a new facility, joined by “fitness, stretching etc.” and “community social, special events.”
Although a right-of-way with CN Rail must be negotiated, the Birken property backs on to Gates Lake and may provide water access to residents in the future at a low cost to the SLRD.
Gimse said she felt the majority of residents attending the March 4 presentation were pleased with the results and the direction the future facility is now heading.
“We had a handful of non-supporters for any type of activity out here, but overall, it was an opportunity for the consultant to present the survey results and really determine if the results were indeed accurate,” she said. “I believe the conclusion was ‘yes.’ ”
Pemberton Mayor Jordan Sturdy, one of two village representatives on the Pemberton Valley Utilities and Services (PVUS) board that oversees joint recreation service with Area C, was also in attendance. He agreed that the results seemed to be a good snapshot of the community, but he’s eager to see the consultant’s final report.
“It seemed like it had adequate data to provide some feedback,” he said. “I think there’s a good representation of what’s going on. But it’s just a survey, it’s just data, and it’s how you interpret the data that’s important.”
The former Gates Lake facility site, which includes a house and is located across the road from the new site, has yet to be sold and Gimse said that is the next step in the process.