5.3.2.d Recreation Centers Discussion

Locations

Recreation centers should be equitably distributed throughout the city. To determine what is equitable the city must consider:

Number of people using a specific center.
Distance they must travel to use it.
Number of other recreational opportunities in the area.
Cost of construction.
Amount of demand from residents.
Amount of time spent waiting for facility use.
Amount of time waiting for facility to be built.

Level of Service

As with any recreation use it will be necessary to determine a desired level of service to the residents. In the case of recreation centers, high construction costs and the specialty nature of the use make the level of service considerable lower than typical park services. Facilities like the Surprise Stadium are large enough to support a large population and area of the city. Smaller facilities like the aquatics center occur more frequently due to the smaller service area and the number of people they can serve.

Types

The city of Surprise has several recreation centers including a spring training stadium complex, aquatics centers, a tennis and racquet facility, and a fully accessible athletic facility. As community interests change due to recreational trends and resident demographics, the city should study what should be built versus what activities may be short lived trends. The city should also look at other municipalities across the nation to compare what recreation opportunities Surprise may not currently offer.

Public/Private Partnerships

When analyzing level of service for recreational opportunities it is important to consider the potential for partnerships with private or other public entities. There is also the potential to turn over the desired service entirely to a private entity. Common examples of this are fitness centers built by the YMCA, golf courses, and specialty recreation classes. When considering partnerships or private provisions of services, the city must ensure the service is provided at a reasonable cost to the residents. The city need to determine if maintenance costs will be sustainable, consider initial construction costs, and review timing of how fast the service can be provided. The city must also determine if the private provider will be able to provide the service at the level desired by residents. If these things can not be done, the city must consider providing the service on its own.