LeisurePlan International Inc.

1. Town of Fort Erie Research Concerning Future Participation in Aquatic Activities LeisurePlan International Inc.

2. Purpose of the Survey: • To determine the order of magnitude and characteristics of the existing and potential short term future demand among residents for aquatic programs and activities in the Town. • To provide information to support the decision making process concerning the potential replacement of Kinsmen Pool.

3. Survey Methodology • A telephone survey was conducted in June 2009. • A statistically valid and representative sample of the Town’s population based on 3 age groups and gender: • Children 0-12 years of age • Teens 13-19 years of age • Adults 20-64 years of age • This allowed for extrapolation of the survey results to the total population of the Town in each age group, within a range of +/- 3.5%. • A total of 643 questionnaires were completed. (A total of 3,860 telephone calls.)

4. Survey Topics • Current participation in aquatic activities: • Types of activities - “summer” and “fall/winter/spring” • In Fort Erie or outside the Town • Indoors or outdoors • Location/provider • Frequency • Basis • Main reason for not participating. • Level of satisfaction with “aquatic opportunities” available in Fort Erie - “summer” and “fall/winter/spring”.

5. Survey Topics • Use of Kinsmen Pool: • Types of activities • Frequency • Main reason for not using the pool • Children’s (0-12 years of age) use of the municipal splash pad.

6. Survey Topics • Future (5 years) participation in aquatic activities in Fort Erie - “summer” and “fall/winter/spring”: • Preference for summer participation “indoors” or “outdoors” • Main reason for not participating • Factors that may impact future participation: • Method of transportation • Travel time • Facility location • Operation by the Municipality • Cost and ability to pay-per-visit

7. Findings • Current Participation in Aquatics: • 99% of children, 90% of teens and 72% of adults participated in an aquatic activity during the summer. • Participation in the fall/winter/spring was approximately half that of summer (50% of children, 42% of teens and 37% of adults).

8. Findings • Current Participation in Aquatics: • The types of activities participated in varied by age group: • Children participated in recreational swimming, water based play and swim lessons • Teens participated in recreational swimming and swim lessons • Adults participated in recreational swimming, lane swimming and aquatic fitness • Recreational swimming was the activity that the largest proportion in each age group participated in.

9. Findings • Almost all respondents in each age group participated in their aquatic activities most often in Fort Erie. • The provider/location of participation varied by season: • During the fall/winter/spring the largest proportion of respondents that participated did so at the YMCA • During the summer the provider/location varied by age group and activity • The majority of respondents were either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the aquatic opportunities available to them in Fort Erie, regardless of the season.

10. Findings • Use of Kinsmen Pool: • 9% of children and 8% of teens participated at Kinsmen Pool, primarily in recreational swimming. • The proportion of adults that participated at Kinsmen pool was not statistically significant.

11. Findings • Future Demand - the analysis included: • Estimating short term future demand (5 years) for each type of aquatic activity, by season, for each age group. • For “summer” aquatic activities – estimating the preference for participating “indoors” or “outdoors”. • For “summer” aquatic activities – estimating the preference for “type” of facility.

12. Findings • The projections of short term future demand were established based on: • The survey results extrapolated to the total population of the Town in each of the age groups. • The margin of error of the research. • It is important to note that the estimates are “projections of demand” and are not the “actual number of users of a specific facility”.

13. Findings • Short term future demand for specific types of activities among specific age groups may increase compared to 2009 during the “fall/winter/spring”: • Children 0-12 years of age – recreational swimming, water based play and swim lessons/stroke improvement • Teens 13-19 years of age – recreational swimming • Short term future demand for the other types of activities among specific age groups may remain stable compared to 2009 during the “fall/winter/spring”.

14. Findings • Short term future demand may remain stable compared to 2009 during the “summer” . • However, facility preference during the summer may change in the short term future compared to 2009. Demand for participation at a non-home based outdoor pool may increase from 2009 based on: • Respondents that do not currently participate in aquatic activities indicating short term future demand for participation, and specifically at a non-home based outdoor pool.

15. Findings • Respondents that currently participate in aquatic activities at other types of facilities indicated that they may not participate in the short term future. • Respondents that currently participate in aquatic activities “indoors” indicated that they would prefer to participate “outdoors” at a non-home based pool in the short term future.

16. Findings • Short term future demand for participation specifically at a non-home based outdoor pool during the summer was quantified by: • Extrapolating the survey findings to the total population of the Town in the three age groups by type of activity. • Applying a “capture rate” to take into account factors that may influence demand between now and when respondents participate (e.g. changes in lifestyle). • Taking into account the margin of error of the research (+/- 3.5%).

17. Findings • Short term future demand for participation specifically at a non-home based outdoor pool during the summer may be in the order of magnitude of: • Recreational swimming: • 1,220-1,595 adults* • 365-430 teens* • 540-620 children* • Swim lessons: • 225-285 children • Water based play: • 515-800 children* • Aquatic fitness: • 440-735 adults* • (* an increase from 2009)

18. Findings • The preceding estimates the order of magnitude of potential future demand. The actual number of residents in the age groups that may ultimately participate at a non-home based outdoor pool will depend on a variety of factors: • Size and design of the facility: • Multi-purpose • Children participating in recreational swimming, water based play and swim lessons • Teens participating in recreational swimming • Adults participating in recreational swimming and aquatic fitness

19. Findings • Location: • The majority of respondents would use a car to get to a non-home based outdoor pool and would travel between 10-15 minutes. • Location on a public transit route is important for teens. • Location in Sugarbowl Park was not an important consideration.

20. Findings • Operating season and hours • Cost of participation: • Operation of the pool by the Municipality. • The cost of participation. • The ability to participate on a pay-per-program basis.