Draft Strategy Engagement Feedback Summary

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Community engagement was conducted using a two-phase approach to obtain feedback on the draft Aquatic Services & Facilities Strategy. The phases included:

Phase 1 (Fall 2025): Components of the draft strategy were presented to the community during Fall 2025 through various engagement activities. These efforts aimed to solicit input and confirm the proposed direction for addressing identified gaps in aquatic services and facilities.
Phase 2 (Spring 2026): This phase was designed to validate support for two major revisions made to the Strategy following feedback gathered during the 2025 community engagement.

This report summarizes the findings from the second phase of community engagement (within Stage 3), which evaluated public support for the changes incorporated into the Strategy in response to input received during the first phase (within Stage 3).

Stage 3, Phase 2 community engagement feedback is summarized as follows:

There is support for increasing aquatic capacity through the development of a community scale pool at ARC.
There is support for enhancing the 50-metre training pool through increasing the number of lanes from 8 to 10.
There is mixed support for the proposed development timelines.

Key themes from open-ended comments were categorized as either feedback on the Strategy or already known challenges and are listed below.

Existing Challenges:

Capacity: Aquatic facilities are overcrowded and outdated, making it difficult to access swim lessons and public swim times. Many emphasized the necessity of upgrading and modernizing the existing facilities as well as providing more water space.
Accommodate Growth: Respondents worry recreation infrastructure isn’t matching Abbotsford’s rate of population and housing growth, calling for facilities built to accommodate both current and future demand.

Regional Comparison: Respondents believe Abbotsford lags behind nearby municipalities,

often travelling elsewhere for recreation services, especially for aquatic programs

Strategy Feedback:

Timelines: Respondents are frustrated with lengthy project timelines and want facilities built sooner, noting current delays may prevent today’s families from benefitting. Many called for faster planning and construction, with some requesting ARC upgrades before MRC.
Comprehensive Facilities: Respondents expressed desire to prioritize the development of large, multi-purpose recreation centres with enhanced aquatic and leisure amenities, rather than a limited training pool, as the first action proposed in the Strategy. Many prefer investing in fewer, more comprehensive facilities that can serve the broader community and host regional and provincial competitions.

Read the full Stage 3 Phase 2 Engagement Summary.