http://thenewsherald.com/stories/03...050330021.shtml

Commission says manager needed to operate center

By Jason Alley, The News-Herald
PUBLISHED: March 30, 2005


LINCOLN PARK -- A full-time manager or an outside firm must be hired to run the community center in order for it to become more cost efficient.

That was the recommendation Monday night by the Parks and Recreation Commission to the mayor and City Council.


A special meeting was called to get input from the commissioners into ways of increasing the profitability of the center, which is best known for its ice rink and outdoor pool. It costs about $250,000 annually to operate as is.

Parks and Recreation Director Donald Cook runs the operation, as well as all recreation activities throughout town. Commissioners said it's time to hire someone strictly to oversee the center.

Their recommendation is either a manager with a background in marketing and recreation or an outside management firm experienced in running community centers.

Saying that pool operations cost more to run than the center, commissioners called for a number of noticeable changes, including closing the wading pool at Paun Park.

They also recommended pushing back the historic Memorial Day opening of the community center's pool and operating instead on weekends only until school is out for the summer.

A number of suggestions were given for the ice arena as well, including bumping up the hourly ice rental costs.

Right now, it costs between $95 and $190 an hour. The proposal calls for raising the fee to $200 across the board.

Leasing the concession stand to an outside vendor also is being considered, as is offering summer ice, which is rare Downriver.

Most centers pull up the ice during the warmer months and rent out the building for fairs and festivals.

Another idea calls for renovating an old compressor room inside the center to turn it into a meeting room that could be rented out for parties or other special events.

In the end, commissioners said, the community center is one of the city's highlights and deserves to be treated as such.

"(We) strongly believe there is no single city asset that brings in more residents and nonresidents to our city than the community center and pool," their six-page written recommendation says. "By revitalizing our community center and promoting its purpose and programming, we will, in turn, revitalize our city."

Council members listened to the 45-minute presentation, but didn't take any action. They're expected to further study the proposal before voting on the issue in coming weeks.

Contact Staff Writer Jason Alley at or at 1-734-246-0867.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
recordar la yocorazon

  Submit to Quotes         

there is a new News Herald story in this sundays paper on going out for a R.F.P to get more info only.

  Submit to Quotes         

Our Community Center is not in place to turn a profit on the backs of our young children. Think about what it is there for. Its for the kids to learn sportsman ship, detour them from negative activities and promote positive activities and teach the value of teamwork.

  Submit to Quotes         

Did we not just spend quite a bit of money making repairs to the community center? As I recall we spent 550,000 on the parking lot alone, I am not sure about the dollar amount on the repairs to the ice and some roof repairs.

Needless to say, when I was at the public meeting neither team gave me the impression that they had the capabilities of making this a profitable venture. I was under the impression that we were to get hard figures on what it would cost us to upgrade our facilities and make them competitive with other centers.

Did the city ever get those figures ? To date I have never heard anything about those figures coming forth. Maybe we need to see those figures first.

  Submit to Quotes         

southside (08-21-05)

Noone got any figures and that is why the commission wanted to get them for the council as some had asked for .
I have stated for the recored I do not want to go to a out side company but I also belive that the best decisions are made with the most info.
Also for the record there is not a ice arena in Mich. that makes money however like Valelie Brady said its about the kids and the community that need and use it . That is why we should find the way to get the most for the tax dollars spent to make sure it stays open. Not just find someplace elese for people to go like another council person said on the floor.

  Submit to Quotes         

Our Recreation Commission has some of the best people in our city sitting on it. They know what they are doing and they care about our kids! I agree with Val & Mike, Recreation is not meant to be a money MAKER, it is a NECESSARY SERVICE, and we should try to break even or come as close as we can without destroying its real reason for being here! I am willing to listen to proposals but going in, my priority is not MAKING MONEY, its making sure our kids continue to have a good program!

  Submit to Quotes