FORT FRANCES—While the exact number of surveys turned in still needs to be tallied, it’s clear residents’ responses to the recreation and leisure study of Fort Frances shows the community is very active.
“Just taking a quick scan of the responses, some of the interesting things people want to see include a social centre, horseback riding, a mini-putt, and bicycle trails,” said Jim Cumming, who sits on the town’s recreation advisory committee.
“But what’s really interesting is when you see what families checked off for activities they’re already involved in,” he added. “People are utilizing everything we have in the community.
“The library, the museum, the parks, the arena, the outdoors rinks, the theatre, the waterfront,” Cumming noted. “And people are really involved in churches, choirs, youth groups.
“We seem to have an active community.”
Cumming said another trend already apparent in the rec survey is the need to let the public know all there is for them to do here, noting quite a few respondents requested to see “new” activities or services that already are available in town or in the surrounding district.
“Some people were not aware of them, or didn’t know how to access them,” remarked Cumming, adding this might indicate a need for a “central information centre” where people would know where to go to find out about a particular activity.
“People might ask, ‘Where can I go to go horseback riding?’ or say ‘I came from a town where I did a particular activity. Where can I do it here?” he said.
The exact number of surveys returned, and the data they contain, will be known sometime in the new year. While it was hoped this process already would be underway, the town still is getting the necessary software installed.
Cumming said it’s hoped students at the Memorial Sports Centre will be able to get to work entering the data during the Christmas break.
The collected data then will be gathered in a study that will be distributed to the town, Confederation College, and the local school boards, as well as be available for public viewing at the library and Civic Centre.
Town council mandated the recreation committee back in January to survey the community’s recreation needs.
The surveys were distributed to residents Nov. 1. The deadline to return them was Nov. 30.
Those who turned in completed surveys were entered in a draw to win prizes of $250, $150, and $100 in Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce bucks.
This draw will be made at next Monday night’s regular council meeting.
Cumming noted anyone who hasn’t returned their rec survey still can bring it in to the Civic Centre or Memorial Sports Centre, though you won’t be eligible for the draw prizes.
A downloadable version also is available on the town’s website at www.fort-frances.com.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
