THUNDER BAY – LIVING – The Friends of Chippewa Park announced today that they are conducting a survey across the community relative to the future of Chippewa Park. The Park is currently undergoing a Visioning Exercise under the direction of Thunder Bay Parks and Open Spaces and The Friends want to make sure the consultants and Council have a good handle on how people feel about the park and its future. The survey asks three primary questions regarding the future of the Wildlife Exhibit and Carousel and whether there is support for a major water play facility at the Park.
According to Friends President Lorraine Lortie-Krawczuk the organization has been conducting a range of surveys in the park each summer since 2007. “This online survey will give us a chance to reach out to those who did not get an opportunity to fill out the survey at the Park this past summer and to expand the total number of respondents.”
The survey is available by going to The Friends of Chippewa Park website at: www.chippewapark.ca. It has also been posted on the Friends Facebook Page.
The results of the surveys conducted from 2007 to 2015 have already been shared with the Consultants conducting the Visioning Exercise. That survey found that 19% of park visitors were first timers while 13% attended the park once a week, 22% once a month and 40% once each summer. The survey also found that 83% of the visitors spent between 1 and 3 hours each visit. The top five activities enjoyed while at the park were walking, amusement rides, the concession, the beach and wildlife exhibit. It is interesting to note that 27% of park users are over the age of 55 with 49% being between 20 and 45 years of age.
A total of 84% of those with an opinion, supported the spending of additional tax dollars to further improve the park. Finally, 18% indicated they lived somewhere other than the City of Thunder Bay.
The Friends of Chippewa Park will be presenting the results to Thunder Bay City Council and the Consultants conducting the Visioning Exercise to assist them in making decisions relative to the future of the park and some of its features.
