• reviewed previous efforts regarding the system of recreation centers (including Game Time 2004, Center Needs Assessment 2006 and the DPR Game Plan)
• identified missing information needed to create a successful plan
• facilitated a series of eight (8) two-part community input meetings across the city, with more than 600 participants, with a particular emphasis on areas underrepresented in previous outreach efforts, and
• formulated a recommendation based on the series of community input.

These recommendations were focused on the value of the system, programs and opportunities, location/transportation and a fee structure. The recommendations include:
 
The Value of the System

• Embrace a Service Model that provides facilities and service by collaborating with others and that supports a local need through the development, training, and use of local community boards to guide service provision.
• Develop collaborative partnerships to implement the Service Model by assuring partners are a good fit for the local community, providing training for management partners and holding the collaborations accountable.
• Establish a baseline of care for the facilities system wide by establishing a standard level of quality for maintenance of both operations and staffing, customer service and programs.

Programs and Opportunities

• Establish a standard Level of Service for all centers by serving as “safe havens;” assuring quality standards for equipment, maintenance, and strong customer service; adjusting hours of centers as appropriate to accommodate shifting of services or programs among all sites; and; facilitating transportation options in order to improve service overall.
• Establish a standard Level of Programming for all centers by providing drop-in activities (game room, gym) at all centers; developing age group strategic plans for youth program offerings that assures that youth programming meet the needs of each community; and developing a strategic plan for Senior Citizen program offerings across the City, broadening the overall opportunities available to senior citizens at specific centers.
• Establish a programming focus for some centers (i.e. Youth, Teens, Seniors)
• Transition existing programs, which are not to be continued at a particular center, to other sites and address transportation options to them. This ensures continuity and access of programming.

The Physical System (Location and Transportation)

• Establish a three tiered system of recreation centers including:
  • Regional centers with focused amenities (i.e. indoor aquatics, state of the art fitness area, gym), open seven days a week.
  • Local facilities, open five - six days a week.
  • Neighborhood facilities, open five days a week with focus on youth programs.
• Seven centers will be transitioned which will entail developing quality partnership programming opportunities that best fit the community’s needs. DPR programming will be continued through a consolidation of services to regional center, supplemented by local or neighborhood centers.
• Determine the viability of having the City of Denver own/build facilities but operate them through leases with other providers at some locations.
• Promote community “ownership” of facilities, while City continues to be an active partner with these other organizations by providing upgrades such as lighting and equipment improvements.

Fee Structure

• Establish a three tiered fee system based for regional centers, local centers and neighborhood centers.
• Offer population grouping-based fee system:
  • Adults: standard fee, annual fee would increase from current.
  • Senior Citizens: discount off of adult fee, annual fee would increase from current.
  • People with Disabilities: discount off of adult fee. Annual fee would increase from current.
  • Youth: encourage membership through a low fee ($3-5 per year); continue “My Place” Program; consider free admission at specific times for Denver resident youth (during non-school periods - Christmas, spring break, summer vacation).
• Offer income-based discounts; offer scholarship/reduced fee based on need.

• 2/3/2009 Martin Luther King 7 pm to 8:30 pm
• 2/4/2009 East high School (Lunchroom) 7 pm to 8:30 pm
• 2/5/2009 Swansea 7 pm to 8:30 pm
• 2/10/2009 Harvard Gulch 7 pm to 8:30 pm
• 2/11/2009 Barnum 7 pm to 8:30 pm

Visit the Recreation website for additional information.