16
FRIDAY, OCT 14, 2016
BOWER PONDS RECREATION A PERFECT SOCIAL HUB
J
BY ADVOCATE STAFF
onathan Strome may only be 26 years old, but he’s big into making memories. The general manager of Bower Ponds Recreation said he’s trying to create memories for people who come out to use the various services the company offers. Bower Ponds Recreation has had the contract with the City of Red Deer to provide recreation and concession services at the ponds for eight years. Strome has become more involved in the business over the past two years, introducing more services and other changes. “Our hope is to create an atmosphere where people are comfortable and enjoy coming to connect with others, whether that’s a group of teenagers coming out on an afternoon and who want to go outside and be rowdy and have fun, or grandparents with grandkids for a calm afternoon. “Regardless of where they fit on the spectrum in our community, we want to create a space where they can create memories that they’ll remember for a long time.” “And so that’s really where the heart came to start to change things.” Along that vein, Strome has added some new features at Bower Ponds such as waterballs and board games. He is also working at seeing the food concession become more of a cafe, with a larger menu, so it becomes a destination for lunch for example. The family-run business includes Strome, his parents Donna and Gary, and his brother Dawson. They have offered paddle boats, canoes and kayaks in the
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Bower Ponds Recreation owner-operator Jonathan Strome stands near the ponds earlier this summer. summer, and skates and a firepit in the winter for many years. A few years ago they began to offer waterballs for rent, which involve a person being zippered inside a large air-filled see-through ball and then “walking” on water. Whether you’re in the waterball of watching it, it’s hilarious, Strome said.
Pomeroy Inn & Suites at Olds College presents:
¦£ ££ ¡ £¤ £ ¡¥® Friday, December 2, 2016 Lunch $30 or Dinner $65 *per person plus tax & gratuities
Treat your staff to a festive Christmas Party at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites. All the fun of a large corporate Christmas Party, but with none of the stress or expense of planning it!
Call 403-559-2111 or email Catering@PomeroyOlds.com 4601 46th Avenue, Olds, Alberta, T4H 1P5 Phone: 403-556-8815 . Fax: 403-556-1056
www.PomeroyInnAndSuites.com/Olds
ASK US ABOUT OUR SPECIAL
$99 RATE DOUBLE QUEEN BEDROOM FOR ATTENDEES
They are “super popular” and went over so well they had to bring in more. “We wanted to continue to create new opportunities and what we find is that when you’re innovative and create new opportunities, when you do something for the first time with somebody, it does create that experience we’re looking for. “It’s the experience you tell your friends about, you post on the Internet about. It’s the experience you want to go back and have with others.” This season they introduced a Surrey bike, which allow riders to sit side-byside as they pedal around the trails in the ponds area. Last January they started the “Board Room cafe” where people can gather and play various board games. They aim to turn it into a year-round experience, Strome said. “With technology and the Internet becoming such a big part of our daily lives, people are looking for an opportunity to disconnect from that world a little bit.”
This year his family purchased Chedda’ Heads, a gourmet grilled cheese mobile food truck, which it is being integrated into the food they offer at Bower Ponds. They also added more variety to the concession menu. Despite the recession in Alberta, Strome said that the community has been very supportive. A lot of people decided to vacation closer to home this year, evidenced by the fact Bower Ponds Recreation hired 16 students to work over the summer. It was the highest number ever. Strome’s job includes hiring, training and managing staff, researching new ideas, building the new menu, networking, marketing and branding, and being the “social media guy.” Looking ahead, Strome said he has lots of ideas and he wants to further expand the winter offering. “We work closely with the city. What is Bower Ponds ready for? What is there room for?”