Rec master plan workshop coming

By Greg Price
Taber Times
gprice@tabertimes.com

A date has been set for the Recreation Master Plan Workshop.

The workshop for the public will run January 28 from 6-9 p.m. in the Taber Community Centre auditorium in which interested groups must pre-register.

“We’ve drafted a letter to all the recreation groups that we are aware of. We will be sticking to two people per organization or group,” said Aline Holmen, Town of Taber recreation manager at the Taber Recreation Board’s Dec. 4 meeting. “We want to get that feedback and we ask recreation board members to attend, but more in a listening capacity. We do not want recreation board members as representatives of a group.”

Holmen noted survey questions for the public were approximately 75 per cent drafted in which they will be made available at recreational facilities within Taber.

“That way, maybe we will catch more people that maybe wouldn’t necessarily send them back,” said Holmen. “There is also the option of a user-group survey.”

“I really like the idea. Hopefully, people will come out, that is the biggest thing. If people don’t come out, you can do all the master plans you want,” added Luke Wijna, recreation board chairman. “Hopefully we will have many different groups represented.”

Discussions at earlier recreation board meetings were made to keep it at two people per recreational pursuit so that input and conversation was not dominated by one special interest group, so that as many different recreational pursuits could have their voices heard.

Holmen stressed, the Jan. 28 meeting is a workshop, not an open house in which people must register for.

“Anything that is recreational, we want people to be there. It does not necessarily have to be an official organization (like Taber Minor Hockey or Taber Soccer Association),” said Holmen in an interview with the Times after the recreation board meeting. “It could be someone who enjoys lawn bowling or horseshoes. We want to have as many different groups represented as possible.”

The workshop will include supper and refreshments for participants. The workshop will comprise of a Power Point presentation and interactive sessions with the group describing assets identifying strengths and shortfalls and asking what community needs are and what is being planned by various groups.

The last Recreation Master Plan the Town of Taber did was back in 1985. Town council had provided direction to administration to complete the plan in house utilizing existing resources with a budget not to exceed $2500.

To register for the Recreation Master Plan Workshop, you can call Aline at 403-223-5544 or e-mail aline.holmen@taber.ca.