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Oo BILL 90

On September 27, 1977, Hill 90 (see following this arti-
‘dle} the Public Recreational Facilities Act, received Roval
Assent, The Public Recreational Facilities Act replaces the
Community Recreational Facilities Fund Act and reflects the
Ministry of Recreation and Conservation’s desire to provide
acomprehensive provincial program to assist with the deve-
iopment of public recreution facilities.
Housed in the newly formed Recreation and Fitness
Branch, the Recreational Facilities Assistance Program will
Provide grants toa municipality or regional district to assist

with the preparation ot a comprehensive plan for the pro-

vision of recreation opporiunities in the municipality or
regional district. Provincial assistance of 3343 % per capita
of the population of the municipality or regional district, up
toa maximum of $25,000.00, will be
appropriaty local government agency, The Recreation and
Fitness Branch will publish, in the immediate future, a bro-
chure outlining the merits of long range recreation plans and
providing an overview of their development and applica-
tion, Concurrently, the Branch will publish a Master Plan-
ning Guidebook. These publications will assist communities
_in the preparation of realistic and functional terms of refer-
ence tor their plan. They will provide procedures for the
‘community to develop, on their own or in conjunction with
a consultant, a plan which reflects the optimum use of all
existing facilities in the community and a systematic and
realistic development of future facilities. ;

The Public Recreational Facilities Act also provides for
capital grants 07 a one-third cost sharing basis to a munici-
pality, regional district or an organization approved by the
Minister that will sponsor the renovation, construction or

- equipping of a public recreational facility. Grants will be
based on one-third of the eligibte capital costs with a maxi-

ON ea ETRE Eo mmmeme ore

‘considered as part of the applicant's

made available to the.

mum grant of $400,000.00 now available. It should be noted
that land costs will not be considered i in the determination of
eligible capital costs. .

In an effort to assist smaller communities, the prograni
will allow, as part of the community’s contribution, volun-
teer labour, donated equipment and donated materials al,
regional rates subject to approval by the Minister. These
charges must be substantiable for audit purposes.

Encouragement for co-operating with avencies such as
School Districts in the joint provision of public recreational
opportunities is provided in a cost-sharing tormula whereby:
capital contributions from the Ministry o) Education wiil be
two-third’s share with
the proviso that the combined capital. fram the province
shall not exceed 70% of the development costs.

Those projects funded by the tri-government Neiyh-
bourhood Improvement Program shail be considered for a
capital grant of 8.3% raising the provincial contribution te
3343 % and reducing the municipal contribution to 162 6%
from thestandard 25%

The Ministry ot Recreation and Conservation recog-
nizes the need for counselling in recreation facility planning
and is assembling resources to meet that need. If your com-
munity is considering the development of a recreational
facility and requires information on available support ser-
vices, guidelines, application forms or planning publica-
tions please contact the:

Recreational Facilities Assistance Program
Recreation and Fitness Branch

Ministry of Recreation & Conservation
Legislative Buildings

Victoria, B.C. V8V1X4