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Murrieta expands youth center hours, pilots charter‑school rentals after busy summer
Summary
City staff reported a busy summer at the youth center — 580 summer-camp registrations and new before‑school pilot attendance — and described a plan to offer charter schools a reservation pathway while aligning rental fees with existing community‑center rates.
Murrieta's Parks and Recreation staff told commissioners on Sept. 4 that the youth center's recent changes — longer summer hours, a before‑school pilot and new outreach — have boosted use and created opportunities to host charter‑school programs.
Recreation supervisor Victor Patino said the department revamped summer camps this year and recorded 580 registrants across seven weeks that ran 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the base weekly fee listed in the presentation was $160 with an optional $20 weekly extended‑hours add‑on. "We were at the brim," Patino said of summer camps, noting sessions were at or near capacity.
For the 2025–26 school year, Patino and staff described a before‑school model (roughly 7:00–8:45 a.m.) that moved from a pilot with low initial attendance to a stable morning cohort of 30–45 kids per day. Staff reported 229 youth registered for the youth center and average daily check‑ins around 114; for the full school year they cited 18,228 total check‑ins. The department also noted an annual membership fee and sibling discounts; the transcript lists the membership fee as roughly $32.20.
Staff described the charter‑school pilot with Sage Oak Charter School, which used the youth center for professional learning, testing, student evaluations and career days. Patino said the city plans to advertise the facility to additional charter schools on a first‑come, first‑served reservation basis and will require standard waivers, insurance and a reservation form. Staff recommended aligning youth‑center rental deposits and hourly rates with those already used at the community center, which in the packet showed deposit ranges roughly between $300 and $700 depending on nonprofit status.
Newer and ongoing youth offerings highlighted during the presentation include:
- Junior staff work‑experience pathways (four junior staff currently participating); - Dual‑language "Little Learners" for 3–5 year olds (monthly class, listed cost about $208.60, current registration 8–9, cap ~20); - An inclusive Youth ARP program for ages 5–12 to serve participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities (staff cited steady registration and a $3 sign‑up fee for the second‑Friday program).
Commissioners asked about scholarships and partnership funding; staff said Riverside County programs have assisted families in the past and the department will provide enrollment resources. Patino said staff will monitor demand for charter‑school rentals and the before‑school pilot over the next year to assess sustainability and revenue potential.
The department asked commissioners to note the reservation procedures and said it will return with any needed policy refinements after tracking year‑two usage.
