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Residents and community groups press Lemon Grove leaders to repair and reopen recreation center
Summary
Multiple residents and organizations urged the Lemon Grove City Council to use Measure T or budget funds to address deferred maintenance at the Lemon Grove Recreation Center so programming for youth and seniors can resume.
During public comment at the June 2 Lemon Grove City Council meeting, several residents and community groups urged the council to allocate funds to repair and reactivate the Lemon Grove Recreation Center and senior center.
Brianna Ayers, founder and president of Libby Grove Community Activities, said her organization submitted a proposal and asked that the city use Measure T funds to replace compromised safety padding, fix chained emergency exit doors, and make other updates so the facility can open for youth and senior programming. Ayers offered her group would be willing to run a pilot program and asked the council to expedite building repairs rather than postpone them while operational details are finalized.
Business and neighborhood representatives also voiced support. A representative of the local business group said reactivating the rec center could help generate new sales tax revenue and create opportunities for downtown businesses. Multiple residents said the rec and senior center were top priorities during recent community goal‑setting workshops and expressed frustration that the draft budget did not include a clear set‑aside for the facility.
Staff and council members discussed options: the Measure T committee recommended additional funding for deferred maintenance and facilities, while staff said certain decisions require following procurement, safety and liability reviews. Councilmember Smith suggested earmarking an additional $100,000 for recreation center repairs out of existing deferred maintenance allocations; Councilmember Mendoza suggested using funds now for immediate critical repairs and expressed concern about adding a new $240,000 community development director position before completing a feasibility study.
No final commitment to a specific dollar amount for rec center repairs was recorded in the transcript excerpt; staff were asked to return with further details and to work with Measure T committee guidance and procurement rules before funds are allocated.
Community reaction: speakers repeatedly asked for quicker action to restore programming for young people and seniors and emphasized that community groups are willing to partner on operations once the facility is safe and usable.
