CPW conducted 23 interviews with local park and recreation experts and representatives of community organizations.  The interview process served a dual purpose.  First, it allowed CPW the opportunity to learn more about the Canby area in general.  Second, it provided insight into stakeholders’ perceptions of current park and recreation-related issues and their visions for a successful park and recreation system.  Some of the information gathered through stakeholder interviews was also used in the development of the community survey.

The pool of stakeholders represented a wide range of community perspectives.  CPW interviewed representatives from the City of Canby Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the Blue Heron Recreation District, community organizations, recreation providers, and public agencies.  Names were provided by the City of Canby , based on prior involvement in parks and recreation-related issues as well as by referral from other stakeholders.  CPW interviewed the following people:

Dirk Borges - Canby Utility Board
Tom Brandt - Boy Scouts
Joe Driggers - Canby Kids, Canby School Board
Pat Ewart - Blue Heron Recreation District 
John Falkenstein - Canby Community School , Blue Heron Recreation District
Harry Kwai - Downtown Development Committee
Kathy Henderson - Chamber of Commerce
Roy Hester - American Legion
Del Hildreth - Lions Club 
Dave Hoover - Canby Swim Team Parents Club
Angie Johnson - Canby Public Library Community Reading Program
Pam Judy - Park and Recreation Advisory Board
Tom Keenan - Canby Youth Soccer, Canby Kids, Blue Heron Recreation District
Barry Lucas - Canby City Council, Blue Heron Recreation District 
Lance Lyon - Park and Recreation Advisory Board
Rick Maier - Park and Recreation Advisory Board
Carol Meeuwsen - Blue Heron Recreation District, Canby Community School
Lisa Michi - Centro Hispano de Canby
Nan Olson - Friends of Canby Adult Center Board 
Leanne Sanders - Park and Recreation Advisory Board
Kurt Schrader - Blue Heron Recreation District, 1991 Park Master Plan Committee
Jim Sharmota - Canby Police Department
Jan Williams - Campfire Boys and Girls

Interviews were conducted during March and April, 1997.  Most interviews were conducted over the telephone, though a few were received through the mail or by FAX.  In either case, stakeholders were asked approximately ten questions.  CPW has grouped stakeholder responses into the seven categories listed below:

• Perception of current park and recreation conditions;

• Changes since 1991 Parks Master Plan; 

• Challenges faced by parks and recreation;

• Perceptions of access and opportunities;

• Visions for the future;

• Volunteer opportunities;

• Funding, acquisition and maintenance: Perceptions and possibilities.

A summary of stakeholder opinions for each category is presented below.  Responses have been edited for clarity, although CPW has attempted to maintain responses in their original form wherever feasible. 

Stakeholders found Canby’s parks and recreation facilities to be in good condition, generally, although most agreed that various improvements were warranted.  In particular, almost everyone suggested some sort of physical improvement and/or increased maintenance was necessary in

From the interviews, we were able to identify several common concerns with regard to current park and recreation conditions.  They included:

• A shortage of playing fields and open space due to increased growth in Canby;

• A lack of nature trails and bike paths;

• Poor maintenance and lack of activities at Canby Community Park ;

• General deficiency in maintenance of park amenities, such as benches, picnic tables, barbecues, rest rooms and drinking fountains;

• Safety concerns in Canby Community Park and Locust Street Park ; and

• Lighting deficiencies in Wait Park .

Changes Since The 1991 Park Master Plan

In addition to finding out stakeholders’ perceptions with regard to current park and recreation conditions, we asked stakeholders to tell us whether or not their opinions had changed since completion of the 1991 Park Master Plan.  While the responses we received varied, most stakeholders felt Canby’s park and recreation system is not adequately meeting community needs.  The following items were mentioned most often:

• The park and recreation system has not keep pace with population growth;

•  There is increasing demand for parks and recreation facilities;

•  City budget cuts and staff decreases have adversely affected park and recreation maintenance and services;

•  Besides the addition of Locust Street Park , few improvements have been made;

•  Park accessibility must be updated to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act;

•  The 1991 Parks Master Plan does not adequately address parks and recreation financing;

• Little land has been acquired for parks and recreation purposes, despite the 1991 Plan and systems development charges; and

• I n the face of increasing demand, a community-supported recreation district would be better able [than the City] to bring about improvements in local park and recreation conditions.

Challenges Faced by Parks and Recreation

We asked stakeholders to identify Canby’s biggest challenges in the successful maintenance and operation of parks and recreation.  Once again, the responses to this question were quite varied, though the potential impact of Measure 47 seemed to be of concern to all.  In general, stakeholder responses can be summarized as follows:

• Lack of funding, especially in light of Measure 47;

• A lack of communication between the City and Blue Heron Recreation District;

• Choosing which parks to maintain under pressure of budget cuts;

•  Stable revenue to operate and maintain park and recreation assets.  System Development Charges are bringing in money, but not for maintenance and operating costs; and

• Creating additional neighborhood parks to keep up with population growth and development.

Perceptions of Access and Opportunities

One of our questions asked whether stakeholders thought any particular group(s) of people were being under-served by Canby’s current parks and recreation services.  Responses were fairly specific, and quite often reflected concerns for the physical setting of parks.  Responses generally fit into the following categories:

Visions for the Future

CPW also asked stakeholders what they would ideally like to see happen with Canby’s parks and recreation in the next twenty years.  While some ideas are similar, included below are the wide range of suggestions we heard:

• A new pool adjacent to the existing pool, so swim meets and other organized activities could happen concurrently with recreational swimming;

• A multi-use recreation center in the adult center/pool complex;

•  A recreation facility which could be leased to private operators;

• Acquisition of additional park land before it is all gone;

• A pathway around the entire city; 

•  Bike paths that would link visitors with local farms, the Silverton train, and the Monitor tulip fields, so that Canby would be a recreation destination;

• Economic development and recreation activities surrounding the train depot;  

•  A centralized park and recreation administration (“one-stop-shopping”), where residents could go to register for athletic events or obtain park and recreation information;

•  More neighborhood parks on the south side of town;

•  River pathways on three sides of town (Willamette River and Molalla River), and bike paths (like Logging Road) and bike lanes, that link river paths and parks;

• A recreation district (Blue Heron) in charge of park and recreation acquisition, maintenance and programming for the area;

• Increased tax revenue to support parks and recreation;

• Usable park spaces, green space and open space within walking distance of all neighborhoods; 

• More old-fashioned style parks like Wait Park; and

• More park and recreation facilities and activities for adults (not just seniors).

Volunteer Opportunities

• Boy scouts and eagle scouts could be organized to perform more landscaping and improvement projects, especially in Canby Community Park;

•  Various organizations are willing to work, but need direction.  Creating a list of prioritized projects (through the Park and Recreation Master Plan) will help;

• Canby Adult Center;

• If volunteer activities were coordinated through Blue Heron Recreation District or something similar, efforts might be easier and more effective;

• Residents have to understand that there is a need for volunteerism. The City must provide constant publicity. If groups are aware of a need, then they will work to take care of it.  Efforts have to be specific and organized; and

•  School children could become involved in park improvements while earning school credit through a community service course.

Funding: Acquisition and Maintenance

CPW asked stakeholders their opinions on how parks and recreation should be funded and acquired. Some felt that the focus should be on improving maintenance of current park and recreation facilities, while others thought both improved maintenance and acquiring new park and recreation facilities were necessary.  Most stakeholders agreed that park and recreation funding has become a complicated issue and that a solution must be found soon.  Summaries of comments and suggestions are as follows:

• Hire a fundraiser/grant writer. This would be an initial outlay of capital, but bring in much-needed financial support over the long run;

• User fees will improve things a little, but they’ll only go so far.  Parents who are able should start contributing more for their children’s use of ball fields;

• Current funding is inadequate.  The City provides the only park and recreation services in this part of the county.  People outside Canby use city services, yet little financial support is provided from residents or public agencies outside of the city;

• Funding and maintenance can be better managed if the City backs the Blue Heron Recreation District and works with them to put together a proposal that meets everyone’s needs.  A tax base from area-wide residents is the only secure funding method.  Bonds and grants are not enough;

•  The City should use system development charges and bonds for capital improvements and acquisition of park and recreation land and facilities.  Maintenance funding should come out of the general fund;

•  The City should use system development charges for all capital outlays.  For maintenance and operations we need more tax revenue, including a district-wide tax for maintenance;

• The City should revise its system development charge formula, and make it more equitable for developers.  The formula should measure park demand by some other standard than the number of bedrooms per household; and

• Require a non-refundable deposit for reserving covered picnic areas.

Findings

Stakeholders indicated varying degrees of satisfaction with the current state of Canby’s parks and recreation.  They also provided a variety of recommendations, suggestions and visions for Canby’s future.  Several items, however, seemed to be of great interest among the individuals interviewed by CPW.  Major themes emerging from the stakeholder interviews are as follows:

• Improvements are needed in Canby’s parks.  The park most in need of repair and maintenance is Canby Community Park;

• Safety issues are a concern for many.  In particular, current conditions in Canby Community Park are not conducive to safe and comfortable family use.  This issue seems to be, at least in part, related to the issue of repair and maintenance;

• Park and recreation funding, maintenance, acquisition and activity offerings are of great concern to all stakeholders.  Most stakeholders feel the current parks and recreation system is not keeping up with population growth and development.

• The Hispanic community could be better integrated into the ongoing park and recreation planning process, in order to decrease some of the divisiveness discussed by stakeholders;

• While many stakeholders feel that the Blue Heron Recreation District is a viable alternative to the current city-operated park and recreation system, it cannot be successful without the active support of the City.  With the City’s support, the Blue Heron Recreation District may be able to provide increased attention to long-term solutions for park and recreation funding, maintenance and acquisition issues;

• There is considerable interest in the development of additional neighborhood parks, soccer fields and an additional swimming pool;

• The focus of the current park and recreation system should be broadened to include more passive-use recreational opportunities for adults, such as the development of walking and bicycling paths, natural areas, and park benches;

•   Stakeholders are nearly unanimous in recommending the creation of more parks and recreation opportunities on the south side of Highway 99.

Last Update 01/03/2003