News Release - November 15, 2017

Funding Awarded to Boost Physical Activity in the RDN

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), Recreation and Parks Department was recently awarded $74,160.00 to help support a number of initiatives aimed at improving accessibility and opportunities for physical activity. The funding was provided by Island Health and is being administered through a grant program managed by BC Healthy Communities Society in partnership with BC Alliance for Healthy Living.

"This funding is appreciated and helps us achieve various aspects of our current focus on recognizing community mobility and recreational amenities as core services," said RDN Chairperson Bill Veenhof. "We look forward to continuing to collaborate with funding and community partners to add more value to our communities."

The RDN Recreation and Parks Services Department has identified a number of initiatives that, in partnership with community groups, will address accessibility and barriers to physical activity focused programs and amenities within the District 69 service area. The first initiative is to conduct a review of fee structures, rental polices and established guidelines in place at publicly owned facilities in which public recreation programs take place. Along with the review a social inclusion audit will be conducted. Social inclusion involves ensuring that everyone within a community experiences a sense of belonging. The audit will go beyond physical accessibility and include a review of how people feel when they visit the facilities being audited.

In addition to the reviews and reports, the Department will work with community partners such as the School District 69 (Qualicum) in making modest improvements to public spaces that encourage physical activity such as installing basketball hoops at playgrounds or installing play boxes at former school sites and in municipal parks.

For more information about the funding program visit the BC Healthy Communities website www.planh.ca. For information about recreation services provided by the Regional District of Nanaimo please visit www.rdn.bc.ca/recreation or call (250) 248-3252.

Contact:

Hannah King
Superintendent, Recreation Program Services
Regional District of Nanaimo
(250) 248-3252
hking [at] rdn.bc.ca (hking[at]rdn[dot]bc[dot]ca)