The Langleys are "admired and envied" by sports leaders in older Lower Mainland municipalities with aging infrastructure and a shortage of both available and suitable land, says a Sports Tourism in the Langleys report.
The final report of the "Winning Bids Research Project" notes that: "The design, quality and maintenance of Langley facilities, in both the Township and the City, are a strength."
For sport tourism purposes, most City and Township sport amenities are quality places for their users, the report says.
The report focuses on the venues for large events, and says that McLeod Athletic Park is an extensive complex capable of hosting large soccer, softball and baseball events.
The report says that the centrepiece of the McLeod park is the grandstand, a unique facility to the region.
"South Aldergrove Park and Walnut Grove Park are considered jewels in the baseball community. The City's Al Anderson Memorial Pool is the baseball Nat Bailey Stadium equivalent, (with its) eight-lane outdoor pool and beautiful setting," the report says.
The report also looks into the private sector, including equestrian complexes "unique to Langley... well-known for their setting in the equestrian sport tourism sector," the report says.
But while the report looks into a wide variety of sports, and local venues, from basketball to gymnastics and hockey, swimming, tennis, track and field and volleyball, it does not specifically name what is becoming recognized as a premium venue in the province, for rowing, kayaking and canoeing events - Bedford Channel in Fort Langley...