The group behind a proposed indoor climbing hub in Creston believes the project could help address gaps in local recreation programming.
Kootenay Holds Climbing and Wellness Society recently unveiled plans for a facility featuring a bouldering gym, children’s play area and flexible community space during a presentation to town council.
While climbing would be a major component of the project, board chair Kristina Schrage said the society’s vision extends beyond the sport itself.
“I really think this idea really hits is the fact that there isn’t anywhere in Creston for families to go to recreate together with age-appropriate activities for everyone,” said Schrage.
She said the community currently lacks indoor drop-in spaces, particularly spaces where young children can play outside scheduled programming.
While programs such as StrongStart do fill that gap partially, she noted they operate during specific hours that may not work for all families.
“For example, if you work 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., then there is nowhere that you can go with your toddler in Creston and just put them on the floor and let them practice physical literacy or moving around,” she said.
She said the society has also identified a need for additional after-school programming for children between the ages of five and 12, particularly during the period between the end of the school day and when many parents finish work.
For teenagers, there are also limited opportunities for supervised drop-in recreation outside existing youth programming.
“When it comes to drop-in spaces for youth, we have the Creston Valley Youth Network building, which is open three to seven a couple days a week,” said Schrage. “But other than that, there isn’t really a safe space for teenagers to go and be around each other, but also to be in a safe and monitored space.”
The proposed facility would include youth-focused climbing opportunities, after-school programs and flexible space that could be used for fitness classes, birthday parties and other community events.
Schrage said the project could also help attract and retain families and professionals in the community by expanding local recreation options.
“We are always having trouble retaining physicians and dentists and other qualified professionals because they can go anywhere they want. So they go somewhere where they can bring their family and families have to have things to do.”
The society has identified the basement of the Creston Place building at 1230 Canyon St. as a potential location for the facility.
The 2,000-square-foot space would serve as a starting point while the group works toward its long-term vision of a larger, purpose-built climbing centre.
Schrage said the downtown location was selected largely because of its accessibility.
“We really want it to be accessible to as many people in Creston as possible. Anywhere within walking distance from the schools would be super ideal.”
She said the basement of the building is one of the only available locations that meets the project’s requirements, offering 2,000 square feet and 10-foot ceilings that can accommodate a bouldering gym.
“We want something that can actually hold ropes and have high ceilings and hold aerial silks and all of the things that a fun climbing gym really would hold.”
Schrage said the building owners have provided the group with a letter of support for the project and have expressed interest in entering a lease agreement, but only if fundraising efforts are successful.
Kootenay Holds has already started fundraising for the project and has raised about $3,500 so far. The total budget estimate is about $100,000. Schrage said the group hopes to raise $40,000 locally through donations, sponsorships and local grants.
She said the group hopes to raise the remaining amount through larger provincial and federal funding opportunities as fundraising progresses.
“Once we get a bunch of community support, once we’ve proven that our community wants this, then we can start looking at larger grant streams, either federal or provincial funding, in order to kind of get some matching contributions.”
While the group originally hoped to open the facility by Christmas, Schrage said that timeline is no longer realistic.
“We’re just trying to concentrate on fundraising. We have no idea how long fundraising $100,000 could take.”
Once sufficient funding is secured, she said construction of the climbing walls and safety mats would take about eight weeks, followed by roughly two weeks for delivery and installation.
“We’re looking at about three months between when we decide we’re ready to actually put down payments on things and opening. It’ll only take three months to get open, but we need to have enough money in the bank to make sure that we can do it responsibly.”
Despite the uncertainty around funding, Schrage said the group is committed to seeing the project through.
“If it takes six months, phenomenal. If it takes a year, great. If it takes three years, too bad. We’ll do it then.”
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