Northwood News ♦ June 2010

Eleven County Recreation Centers Still Shuttered by County Council

By Jim Zepp and Carole Barth

At press time, the draft FY11 operating budget contains no funding to reopen the 11 recreation centers which were closed as of 5 April (see the April issue of NN for the initial story).  The water has been turned off, signs have been posted, and neighbors have been warned by Park Police to report any activity in or around the buildings.

In April, the Northwood Four Corners Civic Association held its last meeting at the recreation center in North Four Corners Park.  It was a sad moment, since the Association has been meeting at the log-and-stone building for 40 years.

Residents reflected on all the events which took place there over the years.  Second generation residents recalled biking to the park for summer recreation programs when they were kids.  Couples remembered dance classes and anniversary parties.  No doubt the other affected communities have similar stories to tell.

Of course, we are told that the centers have been closed as a budget-cutting measure, and there is no question that cuts must be made to the County’s operating budget.  The Parks Department has pointed out that these centers cost more to run than they generate in rental income.  (In itself that is not surprising, since they were not created for generating income but rather for providing a public service.)

What is surprising, however, is just how much the Parks Department says it spends to operate these recreation centers.

First, the Parks Department says it takes 40 person-years to staff the 28 centers (that includes the 11 now closed and the 17 which remain open).  How can this be possible for buildings which are only open when they are rented?  There is no staff onsite, like you have at a nature center or aquatic facility.  Moreover, the buildings are not maintained by Parks staff; instead Parks spends $80,000 a year for contractual custodial services.

What are these people doing?  Clearly they are not marketing the buildings or creating programs to increase usage rates of the “underutilized” buildings.  They are not fixing the problems in the reservations system.  They are not working with their colleagues in the other County agencies to consolidate the four separate automated reservations systems that are essentially fulfilling the same function.

Even more surprising, however, is that, after closing more than a third of the recreation centers, Parks only plans to reduce the staffing level (for operating the remaining buildings) by one workyear.  One has to wonder, what else in the Parks Department budget just doesn’t add up right?

Some residents of Northwood Four Corners feel we can do a better job with volunteers.  We are exploring the possibility of leasing the rec center from the parks department and taking over its operation.  This would mean the center would be available again for civic functions as well as locally generated programs.  (We have neighbors who could teach ballroom dancing, yoga, and Taekwondo, for starters.) It would also be convenient and affordable to rent for parties and meetings.

If you are interested in helping us pursue this option, contact Ralph Bennett or Carole Barth [contact information redacted].   ■

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