City of Surrey's 2024 Annual Financial Report

CITY OF SURREY OVERVIEWS PARKS, RECREATION & CULTURE DEPARTMENT

The programs, facilities and services of the Parks, Recreation & Culture (“PRC”) Department are key components to providing access to safe and engaging recreation and cultural opportunities, protecting the natural environment and enhancing the quality of life for all.

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES This section is responsible for ongoing administrative support to the department including direct support for the General Manager and Division Managers. This section oversees the administration of the Emergency Support Services program, Leisure Access Program, Youth Engagement & Intervention, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and Accessibility. In addition, they provide interdepartmental leadership through their work overseeing Volunteer Resources, the Age Friendly Strategy for Seniors, and City Hall Tours. Healthy Communities has a strong focus on health and wellness through their work overseeing Sport Tourism, Health Promotion, and Employee Wellness. RECREATION SERVICES The Recreation Services division plays a critical role in maintaining and enhancing the community’s physical and mental well-being. They operate 22 diverse, state-of-the-art recreation facilities across Surrey, including five indoor pools, five skating arenas, 18 preschool locations and five full-day childcare centres operated through their non-profit partners. Additionally, they work with the Business Operations section that oversees the operations and continual improvement of the PRC Management Registration System at all PRC facilities, including online transactions, user training, end-user support, vendor management and upgrades.

PARKS The Parks division plans, develops, and maintains the City’s extensive park system (over 2,880 hectares), a civic marina, three cemeteries and all public property trees and forests. Playing a key role in the stewardship of the natural environment, the division engages residents through the delivery of a variety of outdoor programs, services, and events including: nature-based education and stewardship programs; community gardens; volunteer opportunities; active recreation, outdoor sport and play amenities; and citywide community engagement and civic beautification and enhancement initiatives. Additionally, the division is engaged in truth and reconciliation with First Nations through various aspects of our operations such as park planning, design, and development. CULTURE Committed to inclusion and community engagement, the division is passionate about serving diverse communities and respectfully engaging and planning programming with Indigenous communities. Providing City-wide arts, heritage, and cultural services, including cultural grants, the division also supports the development of community arts and heritage organizations. The Culture division also manages the Public Art Program, Visual and Community Arts, Performing Arts, Special Events & Filming and Heritage Services portfolios.

2024 ACCOMPLISHMENTS • The Leisure Access Program processed over 5,000 applications, enabling more than 17,000 residents to enjoy recreational activities through program subsidies • The Age Friendly Strategy for Seniors was

• Awarded $637,555 to 85 not-for-profit arts, culture, and heritage organizations that support the production and presentation of cultural programming in Surrey • Planted 3,176 shade trees and 22,158 native trees (15,000 were seedlings) for a total of 25,334 trees (10,334 not including seedlings) to help achieve the City’s canopy cover target of 30% by 2038

• The City of Surrey supported 36 sport tourism events through the Sports Tourism Grant Program, allocating a total of $88,700 • The City acquired 7.4 acres of parkland, of which 6.1 acres was acquired through property purchases and 1.3 acres through the dedication requirements for subdivision under the Local Government Act

updated in 2024, incorporating feedback from approximately 2,000 community members. A new Age Friendly Action Plan was created and launched for the public on October 1, 2024

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