Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Centers topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners push to reopen Nelson Heights Community Center; manager gives July completion timeline
Summary
Commissioners pressed staff to reopen Nelson Heights Community Center for summer programming and received a construction timeline from county staff that targets mid- to late-July completion with possible earlier interior access for limited activities.
Commissioners on April 15 renewed calls to reopen the Nelson Heights Community Center and directed county staff to prioritize limited access for summer programming where possible. Several commissioners and community speakers said the closed center has left a gap in services for neighborhood youth.
Commissioner Henderson, who represents the district including Nelson Heights, and others urged the board not to delay reopening. Henderson said the center has been closed for about two years and that a limited summer program could provide needed activities for young people. Community speakers who addressed the board during citizen comments — including lifetime Nelson Heights resident Greg Shire and Dorothy Smith — urged the board to return the facility to active community use.
County manager update
Interim County Manager James Brown told the board he had provided a construction calendar and that full construction was scheduled to be complete by mid- to late July. Brown said staff and the contractor were exploring whether interior portions of the center could be finished sooner to allow safe, limited after-school or summer activities while exterior work continues. He said the county has identified nine community organizers to consider for programming and that the county will continue outreach to determine the best partners; TaylorMade was one group mentioned as already engaged.
Board discussion and models for operation
Commissioner Mason suggested modeling Nelson Heights’ operations on the county’s Washington Street facility: county-owned, county-maintained property with multiple nonprofit partners operating programs rather than the county appropriating funds to a single provider. Commissioners discussed the need to keep community stakeholders involved in operating the center and to avoid a long delay before opening.
What was decided
No appropriation or contract award was approved at the meeting. Staff were directed to continue construction oversight, follow up with interested program partners and report back to the board; the present construction schedule aims to finish by July, with staff exploring earlier limited use if safe and feasible.
