Rainbow Recreation Centre Master Plan

The CRD Salt Spring Island Parks and Recreation Commission (PARC) has developed a 20-year master plan for the Rainbow Recreation Centre site. This project was identified as a priority in the 2019 Salt Spring Island Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan in response to the community’s desire for increased access to indoor recreation facilities for residents and visitors.

The site master plan assesses current and future capacity needs and identifies suitable expansion opportunities. This plan will inform a phased capital planning approach for new facilities and program amenities based on input from key stakeholders and the public.

Rainbow Recreation Centre was built in 2008. Visitors engage in a range of activities, including aquafit, lap swim, leisure swim, swim club, swim lessons, hot tub, recreation programs, dog park access, trail walking, community gardening and/or facility renting. The aquatic centre features a six-lane, 25-metre lap multi-purpose pool and 12-person whirlpool. In a typical year, the pool sees over 50,000 visits and over 400 aquatic program registrations. In 2018, the CRD assumed responsibility for pool operations and management from a private contractor.

The site is zoned as Community Land Use Facility 1 (CF1 (B)) with the approved use as “institutional” and “recreation facility and child daycare.” This site is the only indoor recreation property managed by PARC that is zoned with the stipulation that only 25% of the land can be covered for indoor space, due to the property’s location in the Agricultural Land Reserve. Currently, the site is only 5% covered.