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Report prepared by Strategic Research Associates:
"Perceptions Among Spokane Residents about Aquatic Facility Options." (PDF documents)
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(Please Note: these are large documents that may require the newest version of Adobe or try closing all toolbars on your windows explorer, such as Yahoo toolbar. If you are still unable to access these documents please email a request to spokaneparks@spokanecity.org)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 30, 2007
Contact: Nancy Goodspeed
(509) 625-6297
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PARKS DEPARTMENT RESEARCH SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR EXISTING CITY SWIMMING POOLS AND
INTEREST IN A NEW AQUATICS CENTER
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Recently completed scientific research conducted by Strategic Research Associates on behalf of the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department indicates strong support for maintaining and continuing to operate the city’s five existing swimming pools.
Those pools include:
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Cannon – Maxwell & Elm |
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Comstock – 29th & Howard |
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Hillyard – Columbia & Market |
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Liberty – 5th & Pittsburg |
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Witter – E. Mission & Upriver Drive |
The survey involved 500 households within the Spokane city limits between March 27 and April 3. Respondents had a chance to answer 86 questions related to the potential and feasibility of developing new aquatic facilities, including the impact on park space, open space and other land uses.
Overall the study showed most of those surveyed would support continued operation and improvement of existing city swimming pools, and options that included closing some or all existing pools would likely encounter significant opposition. Additionally, most would, at least initially, support the idea of an aquatic center, as long as existing pools are not threatened.
The Parks and Recreation Department is developing an Aquatics Master Plan for the next 50 years. The Park Board hired the team of ALSC/Counsilman-Hunsaker to help guide Parks Department staff in the development and implementation of the plan.
Several community meetings have been held, and more will be scheduled for a presentation that illustrates a wide variety of swimming and aquatics features that could be included in the Aquatics Master Plan. The presentation can be viewed on the Parks Department Web site at www.spokaneparks.org and public comments may be left at the same location.
Current plans call for the Aquatics Master Planning public process to be completed by mid-summer.
Results of this survey will be used by the consultants to help develop a bond measure to fund the repair, replacement and/or new aquatics facilities. The Park Board would then need to determine the timeframe needed to successfully take a bond proposal to the voters.
Top of mind reaction among those survey respondents who said they were registered to vote and “always” voted in municipal elections was that they were more than twice as likely to favor a bond measure (64%) than oppose it (29%).
Among the 261 who stated an opinion (either “favor” or “oppose”), 69% would favor a bond and 31% oppose it, significantly better than a 50/50 split. 19% would have to shift from “favor” to “oppose” for a 50/50 split to occur.
Among everyone in the survey claiming to be a registered voter, 67% said they would favor a bond and 26%, oppose it. The rest had no opinion.
286 registered voters who favored the bond for aquatics cited these reasons for favoring:
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A bond provides more recreation options (49%) |
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An aquatic center is attractive for children 21% |
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A bond supports maintenance of existing pools 16% |
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A bond is the best way to finance improvements 16% |
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A center/pools benefit the city 6% |
(Note: respondents could give more than one answer so the sum is greater than 100%)
Of the 134 registered voters not favoring an aquatics bond:
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Oppose bond funding or a tax increase 23% |
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The city should maintain existing pools 22% |
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An aquatic center is not needed 14% |
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Need more information before deciding 14% |
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Other issues demand priority 13% |
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Less affluent families cannot afford to use an aquatic center 11% |
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A central location would be too far 7% |
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Would not use an aquatic center 5% |
About Spokane Parks and Recreation:
City of Spokane Parks and Recreation is responsible for the professional management and prudent caretaking of more than 4,100 acres of developed parks and conservation land. The Golf Division maintains and operates four championship municipal golf courses, including Indian Canyon, Downriver, Esmeralda and the Creek at Qualchan. Park Operations has responsibility for the maintenance of all park land and park facilities in the City of Spokane including Riverfront Park, Manito Park, Gaiser Conservatory and the many city-wide gardens, Finch Arboretum and the Urban Forestry Program. The Recreation/Entertainment Division offers classes, special events, athletic leagues and activities for youth, teens, adults, seniors and persons with physical and mental disabilities. It also operates Riverfront Park attractions, activities and events, and provides support for community centers, senior centers, the Northeast Youth Center, Corbin Art Center and outdoor swimming pools. For more information please visit www.spokaneparks.org.
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