I was chatting with Tammy at the museum the other day asking if she had any photos of the Community Complex land before it was built on in the early ’70s. OK, I actually emailed her which sounds more anti-social than chatting but she went on the hunt for some that we could perhaps incorporate into our Facebook page updates on the Creston Community Park. Stay tuned on that one. I also remembered seeing a Recreation Plan Study from November 1969 that was done on this area so I dug that out as a historical refresher.
The purpose of the study was to prepare a recreation centre concept plan for the 22 acre “Fry” property which is what this area was known as at the time. I understand it was a dairy farm with an alfalfa field and orchard back in the day but had also heard the bottom part where the soccer field is currently, was more of a swampy area. In and around the time this study was done, to the surprise of the community, the land was purchased and donated to the Civic Centre Association by Don Burns and Alf Farstad,
At the time, the Creston Valley population was estimated at 9000 with 3000 of those in the Town. The study looked at existing participation and demand projections – in other words – what do people want? Pretty much the same subjects as today – Hockey, Curling, Skating, Swimming, Baseball, etc although numbers have moved around as we grew but as well, there were others that were mentioned like Riding, Creative Writing/Painting, Senior Citizens Recreation and Drama (which ironically is currently being fulfilled with the advent of Facebook). The study was actually quite comprehensive for the time and pretty much mirrors where we are some 50 years later. Except where it comes to costs – those are really different (remember your hourly wage in 1969?) It sounded like the study was based on input from the populace much like our Master Plan in 2006 and our current one in process.
It’s funny how we have come full circle – the proposal in 1969 had walking paths, a playground and a ton of trees and shrubs which is exactly where we are heading with the new community park. A large focus was given to the rejuvenation of the old Red Barn where the west ball diamond is today by converting it to a theatre or Arts and Cultural Centre. The fulfillment for a theatre came later with the addition to PCSS High School (I’m sure another great story there) and a variation of the plan became the Civic Centre in the early ’70s. The study quoted figures that indicated a bigger population was required for an arena – the citizens of the day felt otherwise and built an arena and later did the same with an outdoor pool. Realistically that’s what the population did in 2006 when they supported the referendum for Loan Authorization to build the place we see today and we continue to see that support by the huge number of patron visits in a year.
Things happen because of the people behind an idea; starting a grassroots level and garnering support through steady communication of factual information and end benefit to not only themselves but the community as a whole. Frequently frustrating for those shouldering the idea, often it is only through the perseverance of those individuals that we end up with our theatres, community centres, and parks.
