BARRHEAD - The Town of Barrhead needs more recreation opportunities for area residents.
That is what a trio of residents believe, and they think that the Pembina School Division (PHSD) is the key to addressing some of those shortfalls, at least in the short term.
That was the gist of a Jan.9 presentation by Trisha Enman, Coralee Chase and Dennis Donkeers to Town of Barrhead councillors.
Council passed the delegation's presentation as information.
"Our ultimate wish would be the construction of a leisure centre," Enmann, the primary spokesperson for the group, said.
However, she told councillors while that was their long-term goal, in the more immediate future, they hope that the municipality will use some of its clout and influence with the school division to reach more practical solutions, such as PHSD allowing individuals and groups the access of the Barrhead schools' facilities to put on recreational type programming.
She added that the group decided to approach council following the Dec. 13 Pembina Hills trustee meeting, in which the division discussed the plan for the right-sizing of Barrhead Composite High School, which includes using $1.5 million of its reserves to increase the size of the East gymnasium from its current 1,370 to 1,429 square metres. The gym would also be dividable into two. Also, as part of the right-sizing, the two other gymnasiums will be converted; the present plan for the West Gym is to convert it into a library and cafeteria, while the Centre Gym's stage would be eliminated for more space.
"In conversations with different groups, we've identified certain deficits," she said. "Community youth fitness activities, like drop-in gym night, gymnastics, outdoor rinks, and low-cost activities for families."
Enmann said adult fitness activities are another area that falls short, specifically mentioning the lack of a weight room and gymnasium space for everything from volleyball and basketball to pickleball, fitness classes and preseason baseball training.
"For fitness classes, [parks and recreation staff] have sometimes recommended [the Charles Godberson Rotary Room], but that floor does not work when you are on the ground stretching ... and having reasonably priced access to weight and resistance training equipment is especially important to our aging community."
Enmann added that compared to communities of similar size, such as Vegreville, Peace River, and St. Paul, those communities have many more fitness programs available.
"And with the loss of a gym, groups such as club volleyball and pickleball are worried that they will no longer be able to offer the program in Barrhead," she said.
As for potential solutions, the group said Barrhead Elementary School's gymnasium needs to be utilized much more.
The reason it isn't used more, Enmann said, is because of how difficult it is to rent.
"I say that from experience coming off the Festival of Trees [held in the BES gym]," she said.
Enmann added the upstairs Agrena meeting room, which has "sports flooring", could be rented out for profit fitness instruction, saying she knows five people, including herself, who are interested in renting the space.
Chase interjected that the municipality could work with the school division to rent the high school and elementary school gyms, especially at BES, to make them more accessible to groups, suggesting that the town could rent the facilities and make them available to community groups.
Enmann suggested the town conduct a recreation feasibility study. Later in the meeting, legislative services and development director Cheryl Callihoo said the town had already done one before constructing the aquatics centre.
Coun. Dave Sawatzky wanted clarification.
"Are you asking us to build something or put pressure on Pembina Hills? Because we don't own any of the facilities and have no control over them," he said.
Enmann reiterated that they realize the construction of a new facility isn't feasible right now but said they hope the town could work with the school division to find ways to help alleviate some of the recreation shortfalls in the community.
"Because of all the pushback from the public [over the modernization of BCHS], I think Pembina Hills is open to having those conversations.
She added that they realize it is a community issue and hope to make a similar presentation to the County of Barrhead.
Coun. Ty Assaf said he understands the group's frustration over renting the Pembina Hills facilities. If any council understands the importance of recreation in a community, it is themselves, referring to their struggle to construct the Barrhead Regional Aquatics Centre.
.jpg;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
