Re-create Your Future Brennan Park Recreation Centre


This project was completed 2018.


Brennan Park Future

We are imagining our future Brennan Park Recreation Centre. 

Brennan Park Recreation Centre Upgrades and Expansion

Our community is growing and to meet current demand and future community needs, Brennan Park Recreation Centre requires significant upgrades and renovations. The cost of expanding Brennan Park Recreation Centre will need to be funded through various ways. The District of Squamish is actively exploring innovative funding models to generate sponsorships, partnerships and grants.  

What has happened so far: 

The much-loved and well-used Brennan Park Recreation Centre and is in need of renovation and expansion, and the District of Squamish invited public input in spring 2018 into a set of options for how this could best be achieved. A community discussion also took place about the surrounding Brennan Park fields and lands, and the full range of community needs and activities which could be accommodated over time. Community input will continue to be invited at key milestones as we move towards a common vision.

What we heard: 

The Engagement Summary was presented to Council on October 2, 2018. 

View the Engagement Summary.

View the presentation to Council. 

Preliminary results from the public engagement were presented to Council on July 24, 2018. 

View the presentation to Council.

View the video archive from the Council meeting (select Committee of the Whole - July 24, 2018). 


 

View the three options for a renewed Brennan Park Recreation Centre (provide feedback on these options through the survey, linked above):

  Click here to view the sample 3D renderings.

View a cost comparison of proposed options to other communities, plus how Squamish ranks against other communities in terms of recreation facilities. 

Brennan Park hashtag

 

Sign up for the Recreation newsletter to stay up to date and view the summary reports from the public engagement activities.

Background:

Brennan Park puzzle3

Brennan Park Recreation Centre requires significant upgrades and expansion to meet current demand and future community needs. As Squamish continues to grow, plans to upgrade the recreation centre are getting underway. 

As well, the surrounding Brennan Park (from Centennial Way to Finch Drive) has evolved as community needs have arisen, and was made possible by the fundraising and hard work of volunteers and community groups. As the land available for recreation use is limited, it is necessary to have clear direction to guide long-term decision-making on where and what facilities should be accommodated in Brennan Park. 

The Parks and Recreation Master Plan from 2012/13 involved significant public engagement and laid out a path for the future of both the Recreation Centre and surrounding parkland. This plan provides a solid foundation for a community discussion to determine whether the findings are still valid five years later and after 14% growth in our community (change between the census populations of 2011 and 2016).

A Brennan Park Fields and Lands Master Plan was adopted by Council in December 2021.

 


 

Community input comes from residents of all ages. Council recently welcomed these special guests from Brackendale Elementary School who made a Brennan Park Recreation Centre model that they presented to Council, along with a song!

 

Timeline 

February 20, 2018 - Report to Committee of the Whole meeting - concept plans were presented based on community input from the 2012/13 Parks & Recreation Master Plan. These plans form the starting point for a community conversation in 2018. 

May 2018 - Development of a two-pronged community engagement campaign to build on the findings of the 2012/13 Parks & Recreation Master Plan.

June 12 - 26, 2018 - Online questionnaire available

June 16, 2018 - Public Visioning Event #1

June 20, 2018 - Public Visioning Event #2 (both events are the same format, scheduled at different times to accommodate the most number of residents).

July 24, 2018 - Presentation of preliminary community engagement results to Council.

October 2, 2018 - Engagement Summary was presented to Council. 

Next steps: Finalize plans and explore potential funding opportunities:

Funding

Funding for the Brennan Park Recreation Centre, fields and lands will need to be prioritized within the broader facility upgrade and replacement needs of all the District’s operations. Funding sources could be grants, taxation, borrowing, fees, fundraising and sponsorship. However, the first step is to determine what the community wants and needs at Brennan Park, and how much it will cost.

Links and resources

Report to Council - July 24, 2018 Committee of the Whole

Report to Council - February 20, 2018 Committee of the Whole

Brennan Park Recreation Centre Feasibility Study

Parks and Recreation Master Plan (2012) 

Council’s Strategic Plan

Official Community Plan - 2040 Draft Plan

Floodplain Management Bylaw

Real Estate and Facilities Strategy Executive Summary 

 

Thank you!

The District would like to thank everyone for their input so far as we work towards a common vision and shared values for our future Brennan Park.

Brennan Park hashtag

Post your comment

Comments

  • Heather Lowe May 19, 2022, 5:01 PM (23 months ago)

    I've sent email communication before (no answer). Just moved to Squamish (after coming for 5 summers) last year from small town Ont. I'd like to know what the plan is regarding tennis facilities. Squamish seems to have closed down a number of courts, and the only "reasonable" courts now are Brennan Park, which are desperately in need of resurfacing, and are increasingly utilized and wait times are getting discouraging. Our small town (pop 6,000) in Ont. had beautiful public tennis courts, with lights that you could turn on at night as needed. What is the PLAN to support tennis players here, as we see increasing numbers of inspiring Cdn tennis players bringing kids and many other ages brackets into the game in increasing numbers! The downtown courts are now pickleball courts, the old court in Valleycliffe is a skateboard park, Quest is locked off, does Boulevard Park even exist? Please provide information. Driving to Whistler or North Van to play tennis isn't very economical or environmentally friendly. Thank you.

  • Nick Searancke Oct 17, 2021, 8:25 PM (2 years ago)

    Are we getting indoor places for basketball, volleyball etc, in the new Brennan park facility?

  • Rick Vanderham Nov 21, 2019, 8:48 PM (4 years ago)

    I am shocked and dismayed that the recently renovated 4-court outdoor TENNIS courts are being taken over by unskilled and unfit pickleball players with a desire of conquest and facility hijacking. They've already ruined the two court tennis courts downtown behind SaveOn and the townhouses there. Those courts are now ruined for tennis with bold illegible lines conflicting with tennis court lines. Not satisfied with their destruction of tennis habitat there they now want ALL the courts at Brennan Park. The long history of tennis at that location has benefited Squamish residents for a generation or more and with tennis having a strong revival with the recent success of our Canadian Professionals on tour with fine role model players like Bianca Andrescu, who won the Rogers Cup in Canada and beat Serena Williams at the US Open for the Championship. With such strong and admirable role models Squamish kids wishing to learn the sport NEED facilities to play and practice. tennis. Cloudsly Hoodspith, Owner and publisher of the Squamish Times [remember that] would sponor the Squamish Open Doubles Tournament and present the trophy himself. Shame to anyone who things TENNIS is dead. Pickled ballers should have their own facility seperate from tennis and preferably indoors where I don't have hear the silly sound of raquets hitting their silly plastic balls. Utterly annoying....save the tennis players, please. I personally use the tennis courts and the practice boards whenever time and weather allow. We cannot call ourselves the recreational capitol of Canada without tennis and facilities for the sport for future professinal players to develop their skills.

    • Communications Nov 22, 2019, 9:31 PM (4 years ago)

      Hi Rick, Thank you for your note.

      Recreation Services is always interested in supporting the recreational interests of the community. Currently we are seeing a lot of interest and continued growth in Pickleball, as are many other communities across BC and Canada and the District tries to balance needs by sharing facilities and maximizing existing facility usage.

      Courts are shared in many communities and the District made the decision to paint one of the four courts at Brennan Park for Pickleball to meet demand and to understand impacts before committing to painting any additional courts.

      The District will also be undertaking a Master Planning Process for the fields, courts, and parkland at Brennan Park in the early 2020 and their will be opportunity for the community to advocate and comment on existing and future facilities.

      Best Regards,
      Devon Guest
      Acting Director, Recreation Services

  • Janice Nov 13, 2019, 11:39 PM (4 years ago)

    There are many great contributions to re-envisioning Brennan Park, and I agree with every single one. In addition, this is an opportunity to really look at our future and ensure we include performing arts - a theatre for plays, dance, music, speakers and film. The Eagle Eye Community Theatre at Howe Sound Secondary has not served our community well, when it is managed and controlled by the School Board. Bringing all performing arts under one roof in our "community centre" will benefit everyone.

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