Radcliffe Center reports program growth, food-truck pilot and near-complete ARPA/HUD reimbursements
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Summary
Staff reported stronger-than-expected early participation in new classes, ongoing food-truck events, and two near-complete grant reimbursements supporting the Radcliffe Center. The commission heard updates on boilers, the community kitchen project and upcoming November programs.
Radcliffe Center staff told the Garden City Parks & Recreation Commission on Oct. 28 that several recently launched programs reached capacity or near-capacity, the center’s food-truck pilot events drew visitors and most grant reimbursements for the center are now complete.
Staff said Saturday yoga reached maximum capacity and additional sessions will be scheduled. Music-and-movement and a new “mindful motion” class also met or exceeded initial expectations, and staff said they are seeking additional instructors. The center plans expanded programming for students on Nov. 26 when schools release students for the day.
Food trucks: Staff ran a small series of food-truck events on the Radcliffe Center patio and downtown; organizers said turnout was strong for the patio events and that most participating trucks were Garden City–based. Staff said the center collected a small percentage of vendor sales at the pilot events and that placing trucks at the patio encouraged visitors to enter and view the facility.
Grants and facilities: Staff reported receipt of the final Wayne County ARPA reimbursement request ($77,000) and approval of a prior $313,000 reimbursement, leaving the ARPA-funded work largely reimbursed. Staff said HUD grant work continues on HVAC and boilers; boilers were recently turned on and staff expects control-system adjustments within a month. The community kitchen remains the last outstanding capital project at the center and will be completed using separate grant funds.
Operational notes and maintenance: Staff reminded commissioners that the building will remain open on Veterans Day this year, and described outreach for November senior programming (Thanksgiving lunch will not be a boxed lunch this year). Commissioners raised park maintenance issues including trees growing in fence lines at Garden City Park and cracks in the track surface; staff encouraged commissioners to report maintenance items as they arise rather than waiting for meetings.
Quotes: “We filed for our last reimbursement of the Wayne County ARPA, which was $77,000,” Erica (staff member) said, adding that the center has now received a substantial portion of ARPA funding for the facility. On programming, staff said, “Yoga on Saturday reached its max capacity. We had to turn one person away.”
What’s next: Staff will continue to schedule additional programming, confirm future food-truck dates and complete the remaining community kitchen work; staff also will bring rental/utilization reports to the commission as requested.