Ontario’s Recreation
Infrastructure Challenge
2006 PARKS & RECREATION ONTARIO
Educational Forum
April 10, 2006
Presented by:
John Frittenburg
The JF Group
TODAY’S AGENDA

Sport and Recreation Facility Inventory project

Why is infrastructure important

Implications of aging inventory

Uses of the facility data
RELATED INFLUENCES

Facility time is at a premium

Designs have changed

Capital funding is limited

Consumer expectations are rising

Political resistance to decommissioning
ABOUT THE SPORT AND
RECREATION FACILITY INVENTORY
PROJECT
MULTIPLE PHASED PROJECT

Major municipal facilities





Collect and analyze data
Determine capital cost implications
Other municipal facilities
Facilities in other sectors
Operating and use trends
PROJECT ADVISORS

Steering Committee


PRO, ORFA, OPA, OTC
Working Group

MTR, YMCA, OFC, Private Sector
PROJECT SCOPE

Major Facilities




arenas
pools (indoor and outdoor)
community centres
Other Facilities




gymnasia
curling rinks
fitness centres
outdoor rinks
splash pads
wading pools
golf courses
down hill skiing
RESPONSE RATE

96% - 409 of 428 municipalities

Non-respondents – mostly counties, townships
and districts

Sample represents 99% of provincial population
ANALYSIS CATEGORIES

Location

Municipal population

Facility age
MAJOR MUNICIPAL FACILITIES
Community Centres
1,370
Arena
677
Indoor Pools
234
Outdoor Pools
279
LIFE CYCLE STATUS – ALL
MAJOR FACILITIES
DEVELOPMENT TRENDS
Chart 2
Arena Life Cycle Status
Quads
Triples
1 - 10 years
11 - 24 years
Twin Pads
25 - 49 years
50 + years
Single Pad
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Proportion of Public Inventory
100%
COMMUNITY CENTRE LIFE
CYCLE STATUS
Chart 3
Com m unity Centre Life Cycle Status
50 + years
19%
1 - 10 years
14%
11 - 24 years
22%
25 - 49 years
45%
ARENA CONFIGURATIONS
Chart 5
Proportion of Provincial Arena Inventory By Type
Quad (+)
1%
Twin
15%
Triple
1%
Single
83%
ARENA CONFIGURATION BY
COMMUNITY SIZE
ARENA LIFE CYCLE STATUS
Chart 2
Arena Life Cycle Status
Quads
Triples
1 - 10 years
11 - 24 years
Twin Pads
25 - 49 years
50 + years
Single Pad
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Proportion of Public Inventory
100%
POOL LIFE CYCLE STATUS
Chart 8
Provincial Inventory Indoor Pool by Life Cycle Status
50 + years
2%
25 - 49 years
50%
1 - 10 years
20%
11 - 24 years
28%
POOL STATUS BY
COMMUNITY SIZE
SUMMARY OF
INVENTORY FINDINGS

Average Age



Pools
Arenas
Community Centres
27 years
33 years
32 years

30% - 50% of stock nearing end of life

Small communities have immediate crisis
APPROACH TO COST
ESTIMATE

Establish facility parameters

Determine capital repair and replacement
assumptions

Apply assumptions to facility data
COST THRESHOLDS (2005 $)

Arenas



single
twin
Quad
$7.5 M
$13.2 M
$21 M

Pool
$5.6 M

Community Centre
$1.5 M
FACILITY CAPITAL REPAIR
FUNDING FORMULA
Percentage of 2005 Capital Construction Cost
5%
0 Years
40%
10 Years
50%
25 Years
Age of Facility
130%
49 Years
50+ Years
OBSERVATIONS

Municipalities are significant facility providers

Inventories are critically old

Small communities have oldest arenas

Improvements needed beyond age related
requirements
INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM SUGGESTIONS

Balance recreation, physical activity, leisure and
sport facilities

Multi-year program

Consult with sector

Complement existing F/P – T programs
PROGRAM SHOULD RECOGNIZE:

Competing municipal capital priorities

Operating cost – part of local contribution

Assistance required for new and existing
facilities

Life cycle maintenance program is required
APPLICATION TO CAPITAL
PLANNING

Facility types by age

Estimated replacement cost

Repair cost factor

Capital repair strategy

Capital reserve contribution
FOR EXAMPLE:
ASSUME YOU HAVE

1 Single pad arena
30 years old

1 Twin pad arena
15 years old

1 Pool

2 community halls
9 years old
12 years old
CAPITAL REPLACEMENT
REQUIREMENTS

Arenas
$9.03 M

Pool
$280,000

Community Centres
$1.2 M
CAPITAL RESERVE STRATEGIES

Respond to crisis

Building audits

Annual contribution formula

Funding program catalyst
RESERVE FUND FORMULA
Life Cycle
Contribution
Position
Year 1 – 10
1%
+50%
Year 11 – 25
2%
-25%
Year 26 – 50
2%
Even
IMPLICATIONS OF WELL
FUNDED RESERVE

Facilities constantly maintained

Lower operating costs

More cost certainty

Less bandages

Fewer major surprises
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS