Survey: Community wants a recreation center

Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Mark Hiddleston, co-chairman of the local Community Leadership Development Committee, addressed the audience at a town hall meeting April 20 at Mountain Home High School to announce the findings of a community recreation survey conducted in early March. Photo by Brian S. Orban

People across western Elmore County overwhelmingly support an initiative to build a community recreation center in Mountain Home but expressed concerns on how to keep it running, according to findings released at a town hall meeting April 20.

The briefing highlighted results of two surveys conducted earlier this year to gauge public backing for this type of facility as well as YMCA-related recreation programs.

Both surveys were conducted by the Community Leadership Development Committee -- an independent, fact-finding group created by the Treasure Valley YMCA in 2009. The CLDC continues to evaluate proposals by the Western Elmore County Recreation District to build a community center in the city offering an assortment of fitness, recreation and healthy living programs.

When finished, this committee will release it recommendation "to provide a sustainable, affordable option" to meet the recreational needs of western Elmore County, said CLDC co-chairman Alan Bermensolo.

The goal is to "build something of importance to Mountain Home," added Jim Everett, CEO for the Treasure Valley Family YMCA.

As part of its fact-finding mission, the CLDC conducted face-to-face interviews with 27 key local leaders in January. They included school officials, church representatives, elected representatives and business owners.

In early March, the organization conducted a separate community recreation survey to gather additional information from the general public. Over the course of 12 days, 832 people responded, including 145 children and teens.

Of those who took this second survey, 88 percent agreed the community would benefit from a YMCA, said Jack Walborn, co-chairman of the CLDC's subcommittee that headed up this poll. Teen sports and youth programs topped the list of recreational outlets the community needs, he added.

Health and wellness initiatives were also identified as another priority with 23 different programs identified by those taking the survey. To help narrow down this list, people at last week's meeting were asked to identify which of these programs they deemed most important. Using stickers to cast votes on their four favorites, an overwhelming number selected an indoor walking and running track as their top priority, with a rock climbing wall and tennis courts rounding out the top three. Other programs earning a significant number of votes included outdoor sports programs, yoga and nutrition education classes and racquetball courts.

While swimming lessons and recreational swimming outlets were among the top programs people wanted, the need for a pool in this facility received mixed reviews.

"A pool isn't critical" and may not be feasible in the initial building phase, said Treasure Valley YMCA Operations Chief David Duro.

However, it doesn't mean the community center will never get one, Duro added. In fact, this community center may start off as a small facility with the ability to expand as participation, reputation and ability to remain self-sufficient grows. Until the center grows, officials expect the center to collaborate with recreation organizations and businesses in the city and nearby Mountain Home Air Force Base to provide people the best number of needed outlets.

Regardless of how big this facility gets, it needs to deliver programs the community expects and serve as "an anchor ... a place where everyone can gather," Duro said. People here don't want something limited to just fitness or recreation. It needs the flexibility to change as needed to meet the community's various needs.

Responding to concerns from people at last week's meeting, Duro also emphasized this community recreation center won't compete with local fitness clubs or other community programs or recreational facilities. Instead, it fills the niches in the community to supplement what's already available here. It would "add to what's already available; not duplicate it," he added.

The survey included questions regarding a proposed location for a community recreation center adjacent to Mountain Home Junior High School. The WECRD already owns the land and recently took steps to annex their property into the city.

A majority of those polled expressed their support for this proposed site with nearly 70 percent rating the location either "good" or "great."

Reviewing other comments addressed in the March survey, Duro acknowledged that local residents continue to grow impatient regarding the proposed community center.

"Clear communication ... and a course leading to results is critical," Duro said, quoting findings from the survey.

Addressing a follow-up question from the audience, Everett said it can take up to four years before people in Mountain Home get to see this facility's grand opening.

Using the Caldwell YMCA as an example, representatives at the meeting said it takes time to bring something of lasting importance to places like Mountain Home. The YMCA's proven methods include a process to ensure this facility does not fail, Bermensolo added.

The biggest challenge facing the CLDC and YMCA involves keeping the building successfully running years after it first opens, based on membership fees, initial tax revenue and people's participation, according to Everett. In fact, raising the capital to build the facility is the easy part.

"The more difficult part is the day-to-day costs to keep it running not just for five years, not for just 10 years but 50 years from now," Everett added. "It's the toughest part of the process."

A marketing study is scheduled to begin in either June or July to gather specific information on what the community wants, said Billie Bernasconi, chief strategic officer with the Treasure Valley YMCA. The additional survey will help establish an operating budget and the project's feasibility. Data from this formal study will also confirm the community's wants, needs and interests as well as the best location for this community center.

The survey also aims to determine how much money people here are willing to pay to use this community recreation center and if these membership fees and other sources or revenue can actually sustain this facility for years to come, Everett said.

Bernasconi expects the YMCA to release results from the marketing survey by October.

Meanwhile, the CLDC's budget and finance committee will start work on a five-year budget plan, which the commission expects to review by October before making its final recommendations to the YMCA.

In previous public meetings, the recreation district's board of directors agreed they would abide by the CLDC's recommendations.

In his comments at the April 20 meeting, Bermensolo credited the recreation district for raising and maintaining a considerable amount of money over the years to give the community the revenue needed to build a facility following the commission's final recommendations.

"I'm not sure the community has the stomach to wait another five years or agree to approve a $500,000 capital improvement project," to build this facility," Bermensolo added. "We have to stay without our means... when we move forward."

In addition, the facility needs to eventually "wean" itself on a continuous flow of tax dollars to keep it running, he said. While its initial start up costs and construction may need tax dollars in the beginning, the long-term plan must include provisions to use membership fees and other sources of revenue to keep it running in the long term.