Outdoor Parks and Recreation Plan

Due to Prince Rupert's location on Kaien Island with its extensive surrounding waterfront, the coastal landscape is an essential asset to the community. With almost all community survey respondents using and appreciating the city's waterfront, improving the waterfront is a priority in this plan. By improving the waterfront, this plan aims to strengthen the city's unique identity and increase opportunities to experience nature.

Recommendations to the city's waterfront:

• Develop Harbour Landing Park as a vibrant waterfront park integrated with the airport ferry terminal.
• Provide new boat launches and infrastructure for non-motorized watercraft.
• Through new development projects, provide more access to and along the waterfront, including vibrant public spaces and uses.
• Collaborate with others to increase opportunities for waterfront use.

The city's parks provide beautiful settings for residents and visitors alike, and Prince Rupert has a good supply of park space and amenities for the existing population; however, the quantity, diversity, and quality of outdoor recreation opportunities will need to expand with population growth and the expectation of those relocating from more urban communities.

An analysis of the individual park spaces indicates significant needs and opportunities for improvement based on community and staff input and professional analysis. As the city grows, the number and diversity must grow and become more accessible to accommodate people with different ability levels.

Recommendations to support great parks for the community:

• Implement rewilding in parks and other maintained green spaces to increase nature within the city and to reduce mowing costs.
• Establish new parks in existing developed areas to address existing gaps.
• Acquire parks in new development areas per Map 5. (This will mostly occur beyond the time frame of this plan through negotiations with developers, but any opportunities to acquire parkland in the interim, especially along the waterfront, is ideal.)
• Improve community parks with paths, gathering spaces, trees, seating, universal washrooms, and other infrastructure as needed.
• Improve neighbourhood parks with pathways, seating, tree planting, and other infrastructure as needed (including universal washrooms in the larger neighbourhood parks).
• Improve urban open spaces with interpretive elements, seating, tree planting, picnic tables, and garbage bins, collaborating with others as needed.
• Improve natural parks with benches, trails, signage and wayfinding, picnic tables, beach access, and garbage bins as needed.
• Integrate guidelines for parkland acquisition and park design (pages 43 and 44) into the city's processes.
• Establish procedures to improve the efficiency of parkland acquisition and planning, and park design and maintenance.

Refer to the Parks Plan for more information on how Prince Rupert could work towards a Provide access to parks and recreation for all.

The community of Prince Rupert enjoys a wide range of outdoor recreation amenities in existing parks and outdoor spaces. Community Gardens, Playgrounds, and sports fields, among others, were listed by the people of Prince Rupert as vital for them and positively affecting their perception of the city. But, community members pointed out the need for improvements to make the different spaces more inviting and accessible for all residents. Listed below are some recommendations for the city's outdoor amenities based on feedback from the community.

• Upgrade existing ball diamonds and sports fields by improving drainage and adding water fountains where water connections are available.
• Provide community gardens in locations with water and electrical service where there is neighbourhood interest.
• Improve the existing dog off-leash area and establish another one on the east side of the city.
• Establish an outdoor performance area with a covered structure, suitable power, and space for large gatherings.
• Upgrade and replace playgrounds based on an asset management cycle and neighbourhood needs.
• Support the development of a pump track in the community.
• Improve the public running track.
• Expand the existing skate park and provide another one in the future.
• Upgrade the existing sports courts.
• Establish procedures to improve maintenance and upgrading of park amenities.

Refer to the Parks Plan for more information on how Prince Rupert can nurture a sense of community and belonging.

There are over 50 kilometres of trails within the city and across Kaien Island, which community members express their enjoyment of. Designated trails are maintained either directly by the city or through volunteer community groups, with many of the trails in the city being nature trails on Crown Provincial land and not formally designated or maintained. As the city seeks to improve in the future, two main areas of opportunity are formalizing the important existing trails and establishing new trails in priority locations.

• Establish new nature trails (Refer to Map 5 in plan).
• Improve connections to the multi-use path along the waterfront.
• Improve nature trails within the urban area.
• Improve nature trails outside the urban area in collaboration with others.
• Establish processes to improve maintenance of trails, improved signage, and transportation to trailheads.

Refer to the Parks Plan for more information on how Prince Rupert can improve trail access and enjoyment of recreation for all.