Courtenay will soon be consulting with the public for the creation of a parks and recreation master plan.

Last year the city hired Urban Systems to begin the process with a thorough evaluation of the condition of the city assets.

鈥淭housands of data points were collected along with the condition of trails, parks, furnishings, buildings, sports fields and playgrounds,鈥� said Dave Snider, Director of Recreation and Cultural Services, in his written briefing note to council.

During the summer and fall, Urban Systems will be hosting focus groups, event booths, online surveys and various other consultation methods to get input from the community on parks and recreation services.

One group that the city knows will be front and centre in the process is the local pickleball association.

鈥淚t seems particularly timely 鈥� there鈥檚 a tempest in a teapot with the pickleball community right now,鈥� said Counc. Doug Hillian. 鈥淪ome of the issues out there in our recreational programming 鈥� that we really do need to consider, considering the changing times we鈥檙e in.鈥�

Snider said 鈥減ickleball is a great example鈥� of new, emerging sports that the city will have to consider in its master plan.

鈥淪ports trends are a big deal,鈥� he said.

The pickleball kerfuffle mostly revolves around places to play.

Snider said the pickleballers want permanent court lines for their sport painted on the existing tennis courts. The tennis players don鈥檛 want to see that.

A report will be coming soon on this issue, Snider said.

鈥淧ickleball is an emerging sport that鈥檚 taking off in a big way across North America. It鈥檚 important to recognize, as is tennis,鈥� said Snider. 鈥淏oth sports are accelerating 鈥� it becomes ground zero in competition for limited space.鈥�

In the meantime, he noted that the city doesn鈥檛 have a 鈥渧ery robust existing master plan鈥� for parks and recreation.

That鈥檚 why his department started with an inventory. When it comes to parks, for instance, the initial analysis shows where some of the city鈥檚 needs are, where park space is lacking, and areas where they鈥檙e over-serviced.

鈥淲hat our consultant encourages us to do is to take a look at a city standard 鈥� we鈥檙e looking for a very Courtenay-esque solution,鈥� Snider said.

CAO Dave Allen noted that master plans are typically 鈥渁spirational鈥�. Once that鈥檚 done, council has to come back and consider asset management, levels of service, and willingness to pay.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 where the rubber kind of hits the road,鈥� he said.

At the end, he said, council has to engage with the public and determine their willingness to pay.

Mayor Larry Jangula said the regional district recently went through a master plan process for its indoor recreational facilities. The consultant interviewed around 500 people and 鈥渢hey had a list as long as your arm鈥� of facilities and improvements they wanted.

鈥淗ow much extra are you prepared to pay for these things. I think sometimes we have to never lose sight of, and ask the public, is how much are you prepared to pay?鈥�