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Staff report major enrollment, senior‑service metrics at Belhaven Community Campus; field renovation planned
Summary
Library & Community Services staff updated the commission on Belhaven Community Campus services: after‑school programming (about 67 children, TK now accepted and 80% full for 2026–27), senior programming (more than 1,300 annual participants; ~60 senior meals daily, ~11,000 annually), grocery distributions and nearly 13,000 rides annually; parking expansion completed and Kelly Fields renovation is planned with timeline pending Public Works coordination.
City staff presented an operational and program update for the Belhaven Community Campus and Kelly Fields on May 27, summarizing enrollment, senior services, partnerships and facility improvements.
Library and Community Services Manager Natalia Jones and supervisors described campus offerings for children, adults and seniors. "We proudly offer a bunch of programs that's tailored to the needs of the children, adults, and seniors, and families that's within the community," staff said in the presentation.
Key program statistics cited by staff included an after‑school program that serves about 67 children annually, the first year accepting transitional kindergarten and a current fill rate of about 80 percent for the 2026–27 school year. Staff said elective classes, spring and winter break programs and partnerships with local swim providers and community organizations help expand programming options.
Nutrition Services Coordinator Tony Ning described senior services at the campus. "Since we opened, we average about 60 senior meals daily, and that comes out to be about 11,000 annually on an average basis," he said. Staff also said the campus partners with Second Harvest to distribute roughly 4,700 grocery bags annually and supports nearly 13,000 rides per year to help seniors access programs.
On facilities, staff reported a recently completed parking expansion behind the building that eased parking pressures. Kelly Fields is slated for renovation—including a new field and track—but staff said no timeline is yet available while they coordinate with Public Works on scheduling and scope.
Commissioners asked about sliding‑scale fees and affordability for low‑income families; staff said the fee structure keeps programs accessible. Commissioners and staff also discussed operational limits driven by licensing, physical space, staff‑to‑child ratios and the difficulty of recruiting entry‑level hourly employees.
No public comments were received for the item. Staff invited commissioners to provide photos and input to help refresh park web pages and suggested future coordination with Public Works on CIP priorities.
