The popularity of the $20 summer child and youth recreation passes in Coquitlam has the city looking at ways of expanding the program to other parts of the year.
Staff are looking at adopting a School’s Out pass that would give School District 43 students open access to recreation facilities during the 2016 winter break, 2017 spring break and all professional development days. The pass would cost $40 and be available for the school year beginning in September.
The School’s Out recreation pass would build on some of the successes of the summer pass, which was a popular item last year and currently available for 2016. The $20 summer card gives young people access to indoor and outdoor pools, gyms and sports programs such as drop-in basketball and badminton, as well as the fitness centres.
“The use and sale of the 2015 summer child and youth pass was successful beyond staff expectation,” said a staff report. “A number of drop-in programs for children under 12 quickly filled to capacity, particularly in the Town Centre area, and additional programming was added to meet demand.”
Cheap recreation passes are not the only effort the city has underway to encourage young people to live a healthier lifestyle. Coquitlam is also expected to begin promoting the Live 5-2-1-0 message in its recreational programs, which calls on kids to eat five healthy fruits and vegetables per day, limit screen time to two hours per day, be physically active for one hour per day and consume no — or 0 — sugary drinks.
“On-site communication tools at city recreation facilities are being used to keep the message top of mind,” said a staff report.
For the Coquitlam summer passes, between June 17 and Sept. 6 in Coquitlam, pass holders up to 18 years of age will have unlimited access to the city’s indoor and outdoor pools, gyms and fitness centres. The passes can be picked up at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (633 Poirier St.), the City Centre Aquatic Complex (1210 Pinetree Way), Pinetree community centre (1260 Pinetree Way), Dogwood Pavilion (1655 Winslow Ave.) and Glen Pine Pavilion (1200 Glen Pine Crt.). Passes can also be purchased online at www.coquitlam.ca/signmeup.
In Port Moody, which has a similar program, the dates are slightly different (June 20 to Sept. 5) but the passes are good for all facilities, depending on the young person’s age. The passes are available for purchase at the Port Moody rec complex (300 Ioco Rd.).
Port Coquitlam has not adopted a summer pass program.
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