The District of Saanich is developing an Outdoor Sports Field Strategy as we invest in people and neighbourhoods to foster community health and a sense of belonging. This is an important objective of our Council Strategic Plan to further enhance community well-being.
The strategy will evaluate our existing outdoor sports fields and lacrosse boxes to review current and future demand and trends to ensure the needs of our growing population and the community’s access to sports are met. This includes review of current use, regional assessment and benchmarking against other municipalities, and review of existing policies and asset management practices.
Local outdoor sports field and lacrosse box groups bring a lot of value to our community, helping people of all ages to play the games they love, enjoy the teamwork and camaraderie of the field and pursue excellence. We’re fortunate to have investments from long standing sports user groups in our parks and we value the programs they offer to support active living and community sport.
A key part of the strategy is engagement with these organizations. We’ll be asking the outdoor community sports groups to take part in this important opportunity to voice their thoughts and needs regarding outdoor sports fields and lacrosse boxes. The end result will be a thoughtful, modern, and sustainable plan to guide future planning, management and investment in outdoor sports fields and lacrosse boxes.
Project Timeline
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FAQ
1. Why are you undertaking this strategy?
Saanich is undertaking this strategy to provide a snapshot of current conditions and use of the community’s sport fields and to plan for future needs. Consultants will evaluate:
- Current and anticipated demand levels;
- Availability and condition of sport fields;
- Required infrastructure and amenities to support future demand,
In essence, this strategy will aim to ensure Saanich’s sport fields meet the community's needs now and in the future. It will provide a path for the District and sports groups to create opportunities for fundraising for improved infrastructure, stronger partnerships, and point to new opportunities.
2. What is in the scope of the strategy?
The strategy will consider existing outdoor sports fields including grass playing fields, artificial turf and lacrosse boxes.
Saanich has:
- 35 baseball fields
- 18 rectangular grass soccer fields
- 1 grass football field
- 6 artificial turf fields
- 2 lacrosse boxes
Regional assessments of municipal facilities, schools, and other facilities accessible to the public, including facilities offered by other municipalities will be included in the strategy along with an evaluation on opportunities to expand the use and/or programming of existing assets and partner with other jurisdictions.
3. How can we have our say?
There have been several opportunities for sports organizations and the public to provide input into the Outdoor Sports Field Strategy:
- Interviews were conducted by the Consultant with sports user groups in Fall/Winter 2024.
- A survey was distributed to sports user groups and was open for submissions from October 2024 to January 2025.
- Two Key Findings Workshops were hosted by the Consultant for sports organizations in Summer 2025.
- The Draft Outdoor Sports Field Strategy Report and Discussion Guide were released on October 21, 2025, and posted on the District of Saanich website for public review.
- A virtual open house on the Draft Strategy, open to the public, was held on October 22, 2025. The session provided an overview of the project background, key findings, and draft recommendations, and included a question-and-answer period. A recording of the presentation is available below:
- The virtual open house was attended by 16 participants.
- An online questionnaire, open to the public, was launched on HelloSaanich following the release of the Draft Strategy and the virtual open house. The questionnaire was open from October 22, 2025 to November 23, 2025.
- Thank you to the 111 respondents who took the time to share their feedback on the Draft Outdoor Sports Field Strategy Report.
- Read the What We Heard summary from our public engagement.
4. How will feedback be used?
The consultants will gather information from user groups on access, programs, membership, fees, charges, seasons, trends and program priorities. They will also seek feedback on areas of concern and opportunities for improvement related to field conditions and access, helping to shape the final recommendations and strategic planning for Saanich’s sport fields.
5. When will the strategy be finalized?
The Final Outdoor Sports Field Strategy Report will be going to Council on Monday February 23, 2026.
6. Does this mean Saanich will be investing in more sports fields throughout the District?
The strategy will aim to assess current facilities, identify future needs and provide recommendations based on demand, field conditions and community requirements. Decisions on investing in more sports fields will be informed by the findings and recommendations of this strategy, subsequent community discussions and budget considerations.
7. What about sports groups who have invested in the current fields – do they get a say in what happens?
The consultant contacted 54 sports organizations and facilitated workshops with 14 sports organizations in late 2024. Twenty-four questionnaires from sports organizations were completed and have been captured as part of the strategy’s public engagement.
Key Findings Workshops were provided to the sports organizations in Summer 2025 to share an update on the Strategy’s development.
The Draft Strategy Online Virtual Open House Presentation was an opportunity for the public to provide feedback on the Draft Outdoor Sports Field Strategy. This presentation accompanied by a questionnaire took place on Wednesday October 22, 2025.
8. Will this strategy include artificial turf fields?
Yes, the strategy will evaluate the current and anticipated demand for artificial turf fields.
9. How will this strategy impact current field usage?
There will be no changes to field usage as the strategy is developed. The strategy may recommend changes along with an implementation plan for any changes.
10. Will there be improvements to existing facilities?
The strategy will assess the condition of existing facilities and may recommend improvements based on the community’s needs and future demand forecasts. Buildings are not included in the project scope of the Outdoor Sports Field Strategy.
11. How will the strategy impact field rental fees?
The strategy may recommend changes along with an implementation plan for any changes.
12. Is there a possibility of introducing new types of sport facilities?
Based on the community’s demand and future trends identified in the strategy, recommendations for new types of sport facilities may be made.
13. How will the strategy address accessibility and inclusion for marginalized and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) groups?
The strategy will evaluate and recommend improvements to ensure sports fields are accessible and inclusive for marginalized and DEI groups. This includes gathering information from existing user groups about their participants and programs to identify and address any barriers to participation.