by Robin Tarnowetzki
Journal Staff Writer
[email protected]
Humboldt city council looked at the results of a poll to decide which recreational facilities should be a priority for the city. Val Sluth of Praxis, a research and consulting firm, presented the findings.
There were four criteria that were weighted individually: immediate need, how many people would use it, economic impact, long-term need, and regional relevance. Immediate need was weighted the most, regional the least.
Praxis interviewed 16 people to get their findings. They were asked to rate six different potential facilities: ball diamonds, a soccer/football field, a field house, a theatre for performing arts programs, walking trails, and a second ice surface.
The ball diamonds and soccer/football fields came in first, but Sluth said that since they were asked to factor in cost, the participants' inclination was to go with the cheapest option.
If cost was not factored in, the field house was deemed the most needed facility for the community. Some thought the field house could double as a facility for the arts community as well, though those involved in arts disagreed.
The second ice surface ranked very low, because most people felt that the need could be accommodated by extended hours of the current ice surface and other rinks in the region.
Sluth commented that the region was very open to co-operating, which in her experience is unusual.
"You have a utopia here in terms of regional co-operation," she said.
She noted that participants were more interested in seeing something family-based with an emphasis on lifelong recreation, rather than something competitive sport-based. Participants wanted to keep families in Humboldt and they wanted to see a balanced interest between sports, culture, and recreation.
She also said that participants wanted council to move quickly.
"They want you to move, they want you to make decisions," she said.
Sluth recommended that if council needed more qualitative data to make a decision, they could look at the economic impact. She also said if needed, council could look into regional partnership opportunities.
The motion to receive the report as information was carried and will be taken into account for long-term planning for the City of Humboldt.
