A walking-track-only membership is strolling into Servus Place.
The idea, originally put forward by Coun. Jacquie Hansen, was approved in a 5-2 vote on April 23. This means individuals wanting to use only the 270-metre track will be able to purchase a monthly and yearly membership instead of paying for a full-price membership or a day pass.
Walking-track-only passes will be priced at a lower rate, which hasn’t been decided just yet.
Hansen, whose motion was supported by various community advisory committees, said on Tuesday she was very pleased with the outcome.
“I think it is a positive step, and for me, I see it as Servus Place evolving into inviting more people into the facility,” she said.
“Ultimately, it’s going to increase membership by bringing more folks into the facility, and when they get in there, they’re going to see what a wonderful place it is. Some of them will likely buy full memberships.”
The adult day pass is currently $10.50, while a monthly pass is $54.50 and an annual one costs $545. Seniors 60 and up pay $8 for a day pass, $42 for a monthly one and $420 for an annual one.
The walking track membership did receive some pushback from Mayor Cathy Heron and Coun. Natalie Joly, who both voted against the motion. Both voiced concerns about what a single-use membership could mean for the city’s approach to recreation.
Joly said she had a lot of reservations in supporting the motion because of how people use recreational facilities.
“The people who often are in the most need of kind of easy fitness recreation go to swimming pools, and we’re not offering this for swimming pools,” she said. “If you have an injury, you cannot use the walking track, so are we discriminating against those who are unable to use this? Should we be offering a swimming-only membership? That just brings us down the rabbit hole.”
While the walking track pass received majority support, Hansen’s other motion to offer free memberships to Servus Place and Fountain Park for St. Albert seniors who are 80 and older didn’t move forward last week. The motion was put on hold while administration reviews not only memberships for seniors but also those who received financial aid from the province.
That addition to Hansen's motion was put forward by Joly.
Hansen said the goal of her motion wasn’t to include anything regarding someone’s finances.
“It’s just an opportunity to bring more users of that age group into the facility and get them active,” she said. “When you get to be that age, hopefully, a little bit of physical activity decreases hospital visits as well. I have pinpointed the very elderly because that’s a declining sector of our population that might find it difficult to get to this place.”
Hansen also pointed out council approved offering free transit passes to youth as a way to increase ridership and believes that same principle should apply to the free seniors pass. Council heard there are roughly 2,400 residents who are 80 years or older in the city.
