Improving Rec Spaces Keeps Residents Active

In our climate, some sports, like soccer and baseball, can only be played for six months. In Cranbrook, the Kootenay East Youth Soccer Association intends to change this. It will build an air-supported soft dome to create an indoor sports facility. The facility will provide a year-round space for any field-based sports users that wish to use it, and have a walking/running track around the perimeter.

“This facility will improve the rate of development of young players, not only by doubling the amount of time facilities are available in a year, but also because play will occur on a surface—artificial turf—that best resembles the field conditions these sports play on when outdoors,” said Mike Robinson, member of the Indoor Sports Facility Committee. “It will increase the number and diversity of recreational sport leagues during winter months, plus can be used by anyone interested in active living, such as after-school youth groups and seniors groups.”

An old baseball diamond will soon have a new incarnation as a pickleball court. In the community of Oasis, north of the city of Trail, the Oasis Recreation Society will partner with the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) to construct a court for this fast-growing sport. Located next to a community centre and playground, the court will bring people back to the park and increase its usage.

“Community members want to stay active close to their own community without having to drive or pay extra for those services, which this new pickleball court will enable them to do,” said Mark Daines, Manager of Facilities and Recreation, RDKB. “Residents of the Oasis and Rivervale communities, and folks from the greater Trail area, will spend more time in the Oasis Park and create a social hub. This project will improve residents’ health and wellness and increase social connections.”

Multiple slides, stepping stones and a climbing wall: the Slocan Park Community Hall Society will upgrade its current playground by installing new equipment, renew the surfacing, as well as add new perimeter fencing. When complete, the playground will provide a safe and innovative play space for children ages two to 12.

“We’re a small community with a big heart and are very enthusiastic about upgrading our playground for the children and families in Slocan Park and surrounding areas,” said Lorraine Podovelnikoff. “This upgraded, safe and public playground will promote physical activity and unstructured play for more children. It will encourage family members to attend this green space and socialize with friends and neighbours, thus fostering the well-being of individuals and the community.”

All ages and levels of bike riders—from kids on striders to adults on mountain bikes—will have a new place to play once the Elkford Community Enhancement Society constructs a two-acre non-motorized bike park. This space will encourage people to be physically active, enable current riders to develop their skills and help spread the passion for biking.

“When we asked the residents of Elkford what they wanted to see as additions to the community landscape, a bike park was one of the top attractions listed,” said Brad Cromey, Project Manager. “This bike park will be the only purpose-designed action sports area in or around Elkford and will provide a safe, inclusive place for large numbers of kids and families alike to be active and outdoors.”

Ten kilometres north of Nakusp, the Mount Abriel Trail Network Development offers a variety of biking choices. One of these is the Lake Trail, which will soon feature a new wooden boardwalk. Close to the development’s campground and main staging area, the boardwalk will cross a deep gully and keep this wide, gentle trail suitable for trail users of all abilities.

“With this boardwalk, beginner trail users, children, seniors and adaptive mountain bike users will be able to complete the full length of the Lake Trail,” said Janis Neufeld, Project Manager, Nakusp and Area Bike Society. “It will also create a beautiful and exciting feature that will draw people to the network, encourage more people to be physically active and increase recreation tourism resulting in a positive economic impact.”