Everyone has cherished childhood memories of themselves with friends and family at community recreation centers. Recreation centers are integral parts of the community. They provide learning opportunities, sports leagues, health and wellness programming, arts programming, and so much more! They can also provide a source of revenue through space rentals, program fees, and public-private partnerships with neighboring organizations or local governments.

            However, with the recession still affecting many local governments, it is important to consider exactly how to get the most out of your recreation center! The following list offers ideas on how to build, plan programming for, and even market your recreation center so that it will provide the highest-quality services at the lowest cost to your community!

• · Need a marketing plan for your recreation center? Check out this previously asked question to see what other local governments have created.
• · In this previously asked question, you can find recreation center design tips from local government officials.
• · Why are recreation centers important? This blog post shows the critical roles that recreation centers have played in various communities.
• · Curious about what your community members think about your recreation center or what offerings they wish it would provide? Check out this previously answered question to see how local governments are responding to these questions.
• · “Workreation Program for Children and Teens” allows community youth to trade work at a recreation center for admission to the community pool, snacks from the community snack bar, and other community amenities.
• · Thinking about expanding your recreation center or building a new one? Learn how Parker, Colorado, determined its recreation center needs and built their new center under budget.

Does your community’s recreation center have a creative marketing plan, great programming, or an innovative design? Share it with us and submit a document to the Knowledge Network!

Best,

Robin Saywitz

ICMA Knowledge Network Intern

rsaywitz@icma.org