Fairview Community Facilities and Recreation Strategy

The Town of Fairview and the Municipal District of Fairview #136 are commissioning a professional consulting engagement to create a forward‑looking Community Facilities and Recreation Strategy. The service will address the needs of a combined population of approximately 4,600 residents and a regional catchment of more than 10,000 people, taking into account shifting demographics, anticipated school infrastructure projects, and the transition of the Fairview Campus to a non‑profit post‑secondary and community organization. The strategy will map the current landscape of indoor and outdoor recreation assets, assess demand and accessibility, and evaluate opportunities for joint use with school divisions and the campus.

The deliverable will comprise a 5‑10 year vision and practical roadmap that aligns recreation services with community priorities such as health, social connection, and inclusive participation. It will include a comprehensive inventory of existing facilities, an analysis of usage patterns and future gaps, a governance review with recommended shared service and partnership models, and a set of financially and logistically feasible options for renewal, retrofitting, repurposing or new construction. The consultant will also synthesize community engagement findings, regional trends, and cost scenarios to guide informed decision‑making for municipal authorities and partners.

The resulting strategy will be underpinned by a high‑level engineering assessment of key facilities, examining structural condition, maintenance needs and estimated remaining lifespan.

PROJECT OVERVIEW The Town of Fairview and MD of Fairview #136 are seeking a qualified consultant to develop a Community Facilities and Recreation Strategy. The municipalities jointly serve a population of approximately 4,600, with a regional catchment exceeding 10,000. The region is currently experiencing: • Changing demographics and evolving recreation needs • The potential development of new school facilities by both school divisions • The transition of the Fairview Campus to a non-profit organization with a post-secondary and community-focused mandate This presents a unique opportunity to plan for the future of recreation and community facilities through coordinated planning, shared investment, and strong partnerships. This project will result in a 5-10 year strategy that reflects community needs, financial realities, and partnership opportunities, with a focus on maximizing existing assets before considering new development. PROJECT PURPOSE The purpose of this project is to develop a long-term, practical, and financially realistic strategy that will: • Align recreation services and infrastructure with community needs and quality of life • Establish a shared vision focused on health, social connection, accessibility, and inclusion • Assess current assets and identify gaps, opportunities, and priorities • Explore joint-use opportunities, particularly with schools and the Fairview Campus • Strengthen partnerships between municipalities, school divisions, the campus operator, and community organisations • Provide a clear decision-making framework to guide future investment, governance, and service delivery • Provide clear and realistic options for facility renewal, upgrade, repurposing, or new development • Support informed decision-making by outlining costs, trade-offs, and financially feasible pathways PROJECT ACTIVITIES (expected but not limited to): 1. Discovery & Background Review • Conduct a project initiation and discovery session with project partners • Review existing documents, including: o Municipal plans and strategies o Existing agreements and operational documents o Relevant studies (facilities, housing, trails, etc.) 2. Stakeholder & Community Engagement • Engagement will be a core component of this project and include: o Municipal leadership and staff (Town and MD) o School divisions (PRSD and HFCRD) and school representatives o Fairview Campus representatives o Community organizations (sport, culture, and non-profit groups) o Residents and user groups • Engagement will: o Identify needs, expectations, and priorities o Explore barriers to access and participation o Capture interest in both structured and unstructured recreation 3. Recreation Facilities & Service Assessment • Develop a comprehensive inventory of: o Indoor and outdoor facilities (arena, parks, trails, community spaces, etc.) • Assess: o Usage, demand, and accessibility o Functionality and versatility o Current service delivery and operations • Identify opportunities to: o Increase utilization o Expand off-season or multi-purpose use o Improve access and inclusivity 4. Community Needs & Gap Analysis • Analyze demographic trends and community dynamics • Identify current and future recreation, sport, and cultural needs • Assess gaps in facilities, services, and programming 5. Facilities Condition Assessment (Including Engineering Review) The proponent will complete or coordinate a high-level engineering assessment of key facilities, including: • Structural status • Maintenance requirements and cost considerations • Estimated remaining lifespan This assessment will inform decisions related to: • Renewal and upgrades • Repurposing existing facilities • Replacement timing 6. Community Needs & Trends Analysis • Analyze: o Demographics and population trends o Housing and growth patterns o Recreation trends and participation This will include consideration of: • Shifts toward informal and spontaneous recreation (e.g., walking, trails, outdoor fitness, pickleball) • A “recreation for life” approach that supports all ages and abilities • Recreation across physical, social, cultural, and intellectual dimensions 7. Needs & Gap Assessment • Identify gaps in: o Facilities o Programming and services o Accessibility and inclusion • Highlight strengths and existing opportunities 8. Partnership & Joint-Use Opportunities • Explore opportunities for shared use and co-location of facilities, including: o School-based facilities o Fairview Campus facilities • Assess partnership roles, needs, and expectations • Review best practices from comparable communities • Identify opportunities to improve coordination and reduce duplication 9. Governance & Service Delivery Models • Review current governance and operational models • Evaluate options for: o Shared service delivery o Regional collaboration o Potential advisory or coordination structures 10. Financial Considerations & Implementation Financial Analysis & Scenario Development A key component of this project is to clearly communicate financial realities and options. The proponent will: • Provide high-level cost considerations for: o New builds o Upgrades and retrofits o Facility renewal or repurposing • Develop realistic scenarios, including: o What is achievable within municipal financial capacity o Partnership-based approaches for larger projects • Identify: o Cost-saving opportunities o “Low-hanging fruit” and near-term improvements • Present trade-offs between options in a clear, understandable way EXPECTED OUTCOMES (but not limited to): The final strategy will include: 1. Strategic Framework • 10–15 year vision and guiding principles • Focus on health, inclusion, accessibility, and quality of life • Clear community priorities 2. Facilities & Service Overview • Inventory and summary of existing assets (including campus facilities) • Overview of current usage and service delivery 3. Facilities Condition Summary • Structural condition • Maintenance considerations • Estimated lifespan 4. Needs & Gap Assessment • Identification of community needs and service gaps • Consideration of evolving recreation trends 5. Partnership & Joint-Use Framework • Identification of partnership opportunities • Recommended approaches to joint-use, including schools and the Fairview Campus • Defined roles and responsibilities 6. Governance & Service Delivery Options • Recommended models and approaches • Consideration of regional coordination 7. Financial Scenarios & Investment Guidance • Clear comparison of options: o New build vs retrofit vs upgrade vs repurpose • High-level cost ranges and implications • Identification of feasible pathways based on local capacity 8. Implementation Roadmap • Short-, medium-, and long-term actions • Priority projects and “quick wins” • Phasing based on need, cost, and opportunity 9. Final Deliverable • A comprehensive final report summarizing findings, engagement, and recommendations • Presentation of findings to project partner PROJECT TIMELINE & BUDGET: • Timeline: Approximately 12–18 months • Estimated Budget: $175,000 (all inclusive)
Posting Type: Open & competitive opportunity
Region(s) of Delivery: Alberta,Fairview
Estimated Contract Start Date: 2026-07-06T00:00
Estimated Contract End Date: 2027-12-17T23:59