Recreation & Physical Activity

The Columbia Basin Management Plan Strategic Priorities 2016-2020 (CBMP) identifies recreation and physical activity as a strategic priority for the Trust over the next five years (2016-2020). Through the Our Trust, Our Future (OTOF) public engagement process, residents articulated support for recreation infrastructure including: indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, walking, hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails and access to natural assets. Residents also indicated that support for groups and organizations that enable physical activity is important.

The goals and objectives outlined below will guide the Trust’s recreation and physical activity related undertakings. The Trust will aim to achieve the following:

~Recreation infrastructure and physical activity opportunities enable healthy lifestyles~

by:

1. Defining an appropriate role for the Trust in supporting the construction and maintenance of recreational infrastructure; and
2. Defining an appropriate role for the Trust to support physical literacy and physical activity in the Basin.

Based on the goal and objectives above and input from stakeholders in this sector, the Trust has further refined our focus to identify areas where the Trust could take a supportive role. Any activities and programs undertaken will be within the scope of the Trust’s mandate and resource limitations.

The Trust allocated $9 million over a 3 year period to a granting program called the Recreation Infrastructure Grants Program.

The Trust invested $9.4 million in 153 projects across the Basin through the RIG program. This investment has improved, upgraded or built over 350 kilometers of trail, 53 outdoor facilities such as playgrounds or tennis courts and 15 other infrastructure projects such as riding arenas or bridges for recreational uses. Projects are located in or around 42 Basin communities across the region.

This program is now completed.

Goal: Increasing and enhancing built recreation infrastructure available to Basin residents to improve individual physical health and well-being and promote aspects of community, economic and social well-being.

Objectives:

• Increase the size and number recreation infrastructure assets in the Basin.
• Upgrade the condition of existing recreation infrastructure.
• Support innovative and sustainable recreation infrastructure.
• Remove barriers to existing recreation opportunities.
• Encourage planning for and consideration of long term recreation infrastructure maintenance and sustainability.

In 2014, to address the diverse concerns expressed by local residents and stakeholders about the growing impacts of recreation on Crown land in the Koocanusa area, a partnership between the Regional District of East Kootenay, Ktunaxa Nation, Province of B.C. and Columbia Basin Trust was developed. The multi-agency steering committee hired a consultant to undertake an extensive public engagement process to develop a Recreation Management Strategy for the Koocanusa Area.

To learn more about recreation use and Crown land recreation management efforts in the area, please visit the Koocanusa Recreation website.

Goal: To work with local and First Nation governments, and residents to support Crown Land recreation that maintains the ecological integrity, cultural values, aesthetic appeal and economic value of the Koocanusa area for current and future users.

Objectives:

• Develop management activities with input from residents, First Nations and other local stakeholders.
• Facilitate appropriate environmental remediation activities on the land around Koocanusa reservoir.
• Improve the information recreation users have to develop good stewardship decision making.

To address the CBMP’s recreation and physical activity strategic priority commitments around support for physical literacy and sport in the Basin the Trust will develop programming in this area. In the short term, the Trust has chosen to focus its efforts on supporting physical literacy and sport for children and youth (aged 4-18).

Goal: To support sport and physical literacy for youth (aged 4-18) in the Basin through the development of the Basin Physical Literacy and Youth Sport program. This program will support youth sport and physical activity at a community-level and support physical literacy development in a school-based setting.

Objectives:

• Facilitate access to current supports through Columbia Basin Trust such as the Non-profit Advisors Program.
• Support physical literacy opportunities in Basin schools.
• Work with community partners to explore options to provide coach training opportunities.
• Share coach and referee training opportunities with Basin residents and sport groups.
• Aim to eliminate barriers to participation in sport for all Basin youth while not duplicating other existing resources.
• Offer funding opportunities to youth sport organizations, schools, and school sport groups to assist with access to facilities and acquisition of equipment.
• Provide opportunities for collaboration, communication and the promotion of resources available.

The Trust is working with various stakeholders in the Basin to provide advice on developing a new program to support the enhancement of  recreation sites, parks and trails in the Basin. The Trust has been meeting with representatives from Basin-based organizations interested in improving recreation infrastructure and to encourage further collaboration between groups.

Goal: To work in partnership with various agencies and organizations to support the enhanced development of parks, recreation sites and trails in the Basin.

Objectives:

• Engage with organizations that can help enhance the development and maintenance of recreational amenities in the Basin.
• Bring together trails groups throughout the Basin to connect, collaborate, build capacity and share information.
• Identify needs and opportunities related to regional trails.