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Citizens Ad Hoc Advisory Committee

Report On Community Recreation Campus
October 31, 2005

 

Because the complete Ad Hoc Committee Report (pdf) is a large file (2 MB) we have provided the first part of the report (the Commissioners' Summary) below. The remainder of the report consists of the support documents as listed in the Appendix.

Advisory Committee Conclusions Background Limitations of Current Inventory Recreation Center Site Visits Site Visit Observations Constitutent Group Responses; A Synopsis Recommended Facility and Programs Appendix

 

Advisory Committee Conclusions

After a four-month study, visits to recreation complexes in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Colorado, constituent input and committee analysis, it is the committee's inescapable conclusion that the township's current facilities available for recreation, fitness/wellness, community activities and social interaction are nonexistent and/or inadequate to serve the needs of the community now and in the future.

It is important to note that commissioners have stated from the beginning of this feasibility exploration that it is their goal for a recreation complex to be available to and enjoyed by all residents.

Further, it is the goal of the commissioners that a community campus be self-sustaining and not a taxpayer burden. If approved by voters, it is envisioned that the community recreation campus will be operated and paid for through membership and program fees, rental fees and concession revenues.

While the committee is not charged with recommending a location for a proposed recreation campus, constituent research shows that the final location of the main community center and aquatic facility is already of major community interest…with convenient location and easy accessibility being specified.

For such a complex to be successfully fee-supported and not a drain on the taxpayers, it must be centrally located and easily accessible. The committee recommends that further site analysis be undertaken and that the commissioners consider a site that meets that central location and accessibility criteria.

The committee believes that there are many positive, demonstrable social and economic advantages that Upper St. Clair can realize with a modern community recreation campus. Such a complex will:

• Maintain and enhance the competitive prestige of Upper St. Clair as a competitive first tier community
• Maintain and enhance the property values of township residential property
• Maintain and enhance the competitive practicality of choosing and residing in Upper St. Clair
• Insure continuation of the quality of life (good services, good schools, good recreation opportunities) and community safety demanded by present residents and expected by prospective residents
• Significantly enhance the sense of community that surveys continue to indicate is marginal.

To quote the manager of one Ohio facility visited:

"Our Police Department has informed me that since the center was built in 2000 our juvenile crime rate has decreased (emphasis added) 47% from 2000 to 2003. I do know that most homes on the market state in their ads "near recreation center."

Indeed, information from the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA), an umbrella organization of community recreation facilities, shows that those communities with recreation complexes maintained residents longer than those that did not. It also shows that "quality of life" issues can add 25% to home values when residences are placed for sale.

The committee spent considerable time discussing the current McLaughlin Run Road recreation center. The committee agreed that changing the name of the project from The Upper St. Clair Recreation Center to The Upper St. Clair Community Campus or Upper St. Clair Community Center would reflect the recommendations from the committee and the community. The committee did not develop a specific name and asks the commissioners to address this community concern and to change the name of the project to adequately reflect its scope and community impact.

Background

In June, 2005 the USC commissioners appointed an advisory committee to research, evaluate and recommend specific facilities, equipment and programs that can be used by all community residents.

This was in response to the community recreation assessment contained in the township's 1999 Comprehensive Plan and to a 2004 lifestyles survey of residents that identified specific recreation needs as the first step in the 10-year update to the Comprehensive Plan.

Township staff recommended that 30 community organizations be contacted and asked to provide a representative and an alternate as members of the advisory committee thereby ensuring full participation of the entire Upper St. Clair community. Of these, more than 20 provided representatives. Commissioners Shimer and Mertz were appointed committee liaison.

The commissioner's charge to the advisory committee is attached as Appendix A. The community organizations recommended by township staff is attached as Appendix B and the list of participating organizations is attached as Appendix C.

The commissioners also provided a time line, attached as Appendix D. It outlined the specific steps necessary (and the effective dates for accomplishing them) by the committee, consultants, architects and commissioners in order to place language in the May, 2006 primary election asking voters to approve a bond issue necessary to design and construct a community recreation campus.

Limitations Of Current Recreation Inventory

The township's current recreation resource inventory includes 11 neighborhood parks, 14 athletic fields (with four more under development), the paddle tennis/tennis complex and three-hole golf course, the Gilfillan Farm history center and trail plus the new hiking trails and the environmental complex at Boyce-Mayview Park.

However, with the exception of the tennis bubbles, there are virtually no community-sponsored indoor opportunities available for off-season recreation...the fall-winter-spring cycle of inclement weather.

As a result, USC families must meet their off-season recreation needs through memberships in private health and swimming clubs as well as memberships in fitness and wellness centers operated by religious institutions. Social interaction is conducted at area coffee shops.

The high school pool is the only swimming venue open to township residents but open swim time available for township use is limited by swim team use and use by the student population. A community pool was high on the wish list of residents participating in the 2004 lifestyles survey. Area realtors also indicate that summer and winter community swimming pools and programs are high on the shopping lists of relocating families.

The township does, to its credit, offer various off-season fitness classes and programs through the Parks and Recreation Department. These, however, are conducted in meeting rooms not designed specifically for these specialized programs and are enrollment limited because of space restrictions.

Presently there are no township facilities or programs catering to a teen audience. Malls are poor substitutes for this vital community need. The lack of such facilities is clearly demonstrated by the results of studies by the Drug and Alcohol forum.

The same is true for senior citizens programs. While the township does have a senior coordinator who arranges some programs for seniors and one lunch a week, there are no crafts and hobby facilities available or dedicated meeting rooms for the senior population.

And the township lacks a definite sense of community. There is no central community core, no community gathering area and little or no daily social interaction. The concern for the absence of sense of community was underscored in the 2004 lifestyles survey.

Recreation Center Site Visits

As part of the commissioners' charter, advisory committee members visited several wellness and community centers in Ohio (Middleburgh Heights, Cuyahoga Falls, Brunswick, Strongsville, Medina), the Pittsburgh area (Cranberry and Peters townships, the Cameron Wellness Center, Healthtraxs) and Boulder, Colorado.

At each of these in-depth interviews were held with municipal officials, members of recreation commissions and recreation center managements. Advisory committee members also spoke with architects and recreation center members, soliciting valuable insights about programs and facilities utilization.

Information obtained and later analyzed included:

• Size of facilities and allocation of space for fitness, wellness, swimming, teen, seniors and community social activities
• Programs currently in place and those being considered
• Shortfalls in original facilities planning and remedial construction action
• Construction costs
• Membership costs
• Membership utilization and demographics
• Still photography and relevant facilities video

Site Visit Observations

• The common denominator - and perhaps the key to the successes of the majority of facilities visited - is that each is centrally located and easily assessable. Two had aquatics centers located on a separate campus from the community center but attendance was not hampered.
• Exercise and fitness areas as well as the well-designed water parks and pools (both indoor and outdoor) drew the greatest number of users, are the most popular and produce the most recreation revenue.
• Social and banquet rooms with integral full-service catering kitchens are heavily used by community and business organizations for a wide range of activities ranging from corporate seminars to wedding receptions and private parties.
• Social and banquet room rental fees varied but the vast majority produced significant revenue. Several have liquor licenses, separate entrances physically apart from the recreation entrance and security desk area. Several centers also have a mandatory rule that off-duty police be engaged whenever a private party served alcohol.
• Concessions and snack sales are an important component of the revenue stream. The concept of an indoor café with tables and comfortable chairs is extremely popular all age groups and especially with seniors. Internet cafés are already installed in some facilities and planned for others.
• Fitness areas as initially planned were overpowered by customer demand necessitating construction of larger facilities…sometime doubling the size. Personnel at every site visited stressed initial proper design and planning for expansion as the first thing that they would do over again.
• At each of the Ohio sites, because they are fully integrated wellness, fitness, aquatics and social facilities, the amount of activity was eye-opening. Membership lists are almost full.
• In contrast, the Peters Township facility only offers two basketball courts, an aerobics room, and a meeting room and jogging/walking track. It does not have a fitness component or an aquatic center. Families must go elsewhere for exercise and swimming. Consequently, the Peters facility is not a community center and town fathers are now forced to consider adding that which should have been included initially in order to attract membership and become a community center model.

Constitutent Group Responses: A Synopsis

The information obtained during these visits was analyzed and discussed in open forum committee meetings, with the exception of one private working session.

Rather than construct a scientific survey tool or hire a consultant to create one, the committee attempted to take the pulse of the community through the opinions of the various constituent groups. Since the committee represented more than 20 diverse community organizations, sampling diversity appears to be inherent in the groups.

Committee members distributed an Executive Summary to constituent groups. In some cases, there was an accompanying questionnaire. The groups were asked to comment on and rank the concepts, programs and facilities described as the Community Recreation Center.

Respondents are overwhelmingly supportive of the proposed community recreation campus in some form. Most support an aquatic center with indoor or outdoor pools or both types of facilities. General fitness facilities are also well endorsed.

Very few respondents were completely negative. Most had general questions and concerns. The following is a sampling of these, since at the time of this writing, all responses have not been received.

• Cost of building facilities is an issue of concern to almost 90%
• Another important issue is the ability of the proposed center to be self-funding. There is a very negative response to additional taxes to support a facility
• A large number of people are concerned about the need for a central, easily accessible location for the recreation campus and the apparent coronation of Boyce-Mayview as the pre-determined site of choice.
• Residents who are already members of health clubs appear willing to switch to recreation center membership if the USC facility fees are no higher than those of their current clubs
• A small number of respondents were concerned about competing with other facilities in the area
• Families with young children were in favor of a community recreation campus but were concerned about affordability
• Suggestions about partnering with other institutions to add market share and defray costs came from several sources.

Please refer to Constituent Comments and Concerns in the Appendix for further examples.

Recommended Facility And Programs

Based on in-depth research by focus groups assigned to analyze specific physical plant and program needs, the advisory committee recommends that the township develop an integrated lifestyles campus that includes the following:

1. AN OUTDOOR AND INDOOR AQUATIC CENTER

The Outdoor Aquatic Center

The outdoor aquatic center would feature an approximately 19,000 square foot family-oriented leisure pool with:

• Zero-depth entry
• 3 lap lanes
• Diving well
• Waterslides
• Twin falls
• Water spouts
• Sandy area
• Volleyball courts
• Picnic area
• A grassy area with concessions

Indoor Aquatic Center

The indoor aquatic component would include both competitive and leisure pools. The competitive pool would measure 25 yards (8 lanes) by 50 meters (20 lanes), suitable for competitive meets as well as for recreational lap swimmers. A diving area would also be included, as would spectator seating, locker rooms, showers and whirlpools.

The leisure pool would feature:

• A lazy river with a reverse flow resistance channel
• An instruction area for water aerobics and beginner swim programs
• A kids area

2. A WELLNESS/FITNESS/SOCIAL CENTER

This will include a fitness center with:

• Exercise machines, treadmills, cardiovascular and circuit training equipment
• Free weights
• Indoor walking/ running track
• Multiple use activity rooms for classes in aerobics, yoga, spinning, Pilates, dance, etc.

  A gymnasium containing:

  • Two full-size basketball courts with flexibility to be converted to indoor volleyball courts with seating for spectators.
  • Racquetball courts

Auxiliary rooms for small-scale indoor floor hockey and soccer, as well as batting practice cages and indoor golf nets.

Childcare facilities with a specialized, attended area for childcare while parents are present in the facility.

Banquet and meetings rooms with:

• Large and small rooms with kitchen facilities that could be rented for special occasions
• Meeting rooms for community organizations to hold events

Internet café, snack bar, vending area

Skateboard bowl

Retail shop

Community gardens featuring specific areas for beautification and gardening

Outdoor amphitheater

Picnic facilities

Multipurpose room for arts and crafts

Senior citizen facilities and programs

Teen center facilities and programs

Plus a variety of market-driven programs designed for residents of all ages, including exercise classes, music and entertainment, special events.

Further details and commentary may be found in the Appendix following this report.

Appendix

1. Charge from Commissioners to the Ad Hoc Committee
2. List of Community Groups invited to Participate on the Ad Hoc Committee
3. Groups, Representatives and Alternates Participating on the Ad Hoc Committee
4. Timeline designed by Commissioners for the Committee
5. Research Group Reports

   E-a   Fitness Committee Report/Recommendations

   E-b   Pool

   E-c   Proposed Aquatics Programs

   E-d   Special Facilities, Food/Concessions Programming--Adult, Children, Teens, Seniors

6. Constituent Responses to Executive Summary