Daly City recreation staff outline 2025 programs, urge support to grow scholarship fund

Edgardo, Recreation Department staff member filling in for the director, presented a 2025 preview of Daly City—s Department of Recreation Services on Feb. 25, describing planned programs for seniors, teens, youth and adults and urging community and commission support to expand a scholarship fund.

The presentation outlined recurring services and special events, highlighted efforts to increase program participation, and called for continued funding and volunteer support. "Our mission...is serving our neighborhoods and empowering generations by bringing people together to foster community, lifelong learning, and healthy lifestyles," Edgardo said. He added, "We serve over 200 meals each day, every day," when describing the congregate senior lunch program.

Edgardo said the department operates with about 20 full-time staff and 50—60 part-time staff and reviewed eight program areas: active adult and senior services, teen programming, athletics, adult classes and game nights, aquatics, youth recreation (after-school and summer), facility rentals, and special events. Senior offerings include congregate lunches at the Dolger Senior Center, Lincoln Park, Geller Park and Bayshore and an annual senior pass priced at $50. He described low-cost classes ("MQ classes") at $10 for residents, a sold-out senior field trip to the aquarium in San Francisco, and partnerships with AARP for tax services through April.

For teens, the department will continue open gym access at Bayshore, War Memorial and Westlake for a $40 annual fee and expand leadership, cooking and job-readiness opportunities, including internships with city departments beginning in May and June. Youth athletics mentioned included an ongoing youth basketball season, a new middle-school girls volleyball league starting in late March or early April, tee-ball and coach-pitch baseball sign-ups beginning in April, and additional sessions of Mini Hoops in the fall.

Aquatics programming at the shared Geo Mono pool includes aqua fitness, lap swim and recreation swim as well as swim lessons for ages 6 months to seniors. Facility rentals and amenities across city venues remain available for public events, and the department emphasized continued collaboration with partner organizations.

On special events, Edgardo listed a calendar that includes a spring "Recreation and Resources" day (April 19), a senior prom (May 30), a health and wellness fair (May 14), a summer carnival, Hip Hop Day (Aug. 16), Latino Heritage and Filipino History Month celebrations in September and October, and seasonal events including autumn fest and Frosty Snow Fest with partner centers.

Build A Dream scholarship: The presentation detailed recent changes to the Build A Dream scholarship program, which provides course and program assistance to Daly City youth, active adults and seniors. Edgardo said staff made policy updates and outreach changes and reported raising "over $50,000" in the last six to seven months through donations, events and community partners. He described the current award structure as a one-time allocation paid to participants for the calendar year, capped at $250 per participant; unused award money returns to the scholarship fund and applicants must reapply annually. "We want to build a sustainable fund," Edgardo said.

Commission discussion and direction: Commissioners praised the breadth of recreation programming and asked about ongoing volunteer needs; Edgardo said the department is "always in need of volunteers" and invited interested residents to email activedailycity@org. Commissioners also discussed expanding corporate sponsorship outreach for events as a revenue strategy for the scholarship fund. One commissioner requested an organizational chart for the Recreation Department to clarify who oversees programs; another proposed an agenda item for next month titled "Commissioners' goals and ideas for the year" to coordinate support for the eight program areas.

Procedural actions: At the start of the meeting commissioners conducted a brief reorganization of seats and held voice votes to elect leadership and approve routine items. The meeting record shows unanimous voice votes to elect Fernando Montanes as chair and Saul Miranda as vice chair, to approve the meeting agenda and to approve the Nov. 26 minutes. The meeting adjourned by voice vote.

Why it matters: The department—s presentation outlines the schedule and access for programs that serve seniors, youth and adults across Daly City, and the Build A Dream scholarship expansion could affect who can afford to participate. Commissioners signaled an interest in supporting fundraising and outreach to sustain programming.

The Recreation Department provided program and contact details on dalycity.org/recreation and directed volunteer inquiries to activedalycity@org and (650) 991-8001.

Votes at a glance

- Elect chair: Motion to elect Fernando Montanes as chair; mover/second not specified; voice vote; outcome: approved (commissioners present recorded as voting yes). - Elect vice chair: Motion to elect Saul Miranda as vice chair; mover/second not specified; voice vote; outcome: approved (commissioners present recorded as voting yes). - Approve agenda: Motion to approve today's agenda; mover/second not specified; voice vote; outcome: approved (commissioners present recorded as voting yes). - Approve minutes (Nov. 26): Motion to approve minutes; mover/second not specified; voice vote; outcome: approved (commissioners present recorded as voting yes). - Adjourn: Motion to adjourn; mover/second not specified; voice vote; outcome: approved.

(Reported from the Feb. 25, 2025 Daly City Recreation Commission meeting.)