The Parent Link Centre in Banff is proving so popular with parents and their kids that it’s outgrowing its small space.
Parent Link presently runs out of 101 Bear St., known locally as the Banff Seniors Centre, and the draft recreation facilities master plan says the popular program is at capacity and needs more space.
The recreation facilities plan indicates additional space could be provided through sharing some of the existing programming spaces at the seniors centre in the short term and making them multi-use spaces.
However, in the long term, the master plan calls for consideration of an improved purpose-built space for Parent Link through the redevelopment of 101 Bear St., or a separate facility.
Officials say several locations in the community have been considered for Parent Link, but a provincial funding agreement means the program needs to be located within municipal space.
“It’s such a well-utilized program and people are really wanting it,” said Alison Gerrits, the Town of Banff Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) supervisor. “The space we have now works, but it’s quite small.”
Bow Valley Parent Link Centre is a partnership between the Town of Banff FCSS and the Town of Canmore FCSS.
Services offered free of charge to families with children up to six years of age include parent education, early childhood development and care, family support and information and referral.
Drop-in play programs, parent workshops and access to a comprehensive resource library are offered.
The program saw 3,183 visits in 2012, 4,301 in 2011, 4,579 in 2010, 3,827 in 2009 and 3,808 in 2008.
Gerrits said these numbers are based on daily drop-ins from September to June, but noted there is only one drop-in per week in summer when the program offers minimal hours.
“Visit numbers to the playroom space did drop in 2012, but likely because of the addition of the parent-led gross motor play area established in the Pioneer Room to alleviate some of the congestion in the playroom,” she said.
The Banff Seniors Centre facility has rooms of various sizes, including a main hall Pioneer Room with a capacity for 100 people.
In addition to the core seniors’ programs, a range of activities takes place there, including Parent Link programs, various fitness classes and BanffLife’s pasta nights.
According to the draft recreation facilities master plan, there is potential to improve and increase use of the Bear Street facility by increasing sharing of rooms.
It calls for an evaluation of the potential to convert existing single-use rooms, including rooms currently dedicated exclusively to seniors programming, to multi-purpose rooms.
“The idea is to make the best use of all the space we have,” said Chad Townsend, the Town of Banff’s point man on the recreation facilities master plan.
“What we’re suggesting is some spaces could be used for more than just one thing, but that does not mean we’re displacing one group for another.”
The draft recreation plan is expected to come back to council for consideration Nov. 12.
Following approval of the plan, the next step will be an implementation strategy and capital budget plan for 2013 through 2023.
