Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Needs Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Specialized Needs Recreation details programs and launches capital campaign to build an accessible center
Summary
Specialized Needs Recreation (SNR) described a four-decade regional program serving people with disabilities, reported a $339,000 annual budget and increased demand, and announced a "Building Belonging" capital campaign with city-set-aside land in Celane for a proposed purpose-built facility.
Lindseay Patterson, executive director of Specialized Needs Recreation, told the Post Falls Park and Recreation Commission June 23 that SNR provides year-round programs for children, teens and adults with disabilities and is pursuing a capital campaign for a purpose-built recreation center.
Patterson described SNR's continuum of services: an adult day program (ages 18 and up, Monday'Friday 10 a.m.'2 p.m.), Camp Allstars for ages 8'18 during school breaks, evening programs and sports opportunities that emphasize participation and life skills. She said the organization recently expanded its facility by about 1,000 square feet and serves more than 400 individuals regionally. "Accessible recreation is not optional. It is essential to a healthy and connected community," Patterson said.
Patterson said SNR's annual operating budget is about $339,000 and is funded by program fees, grants, donations and municipal contributions; she described municipal support as an important but uneven component of the funding model. "Post Falls is home to nearly 34% of SNR participants," she told the commission, "yet currently rates just over 10% of the municipal support we receive annually." Patterson said SNR hopes the "Building Belonging" campaign will secure a purpose-built facility with indoor'outdoor courts, a sensory room, program rooms, a large kitchen and other accessibility features. She said the city has set aside a parcel the presentation named for the proposed site and emphasized the site's access to transit and park settings.
Commissioners asked about volunteers, fee changes and differences between SNR and clinically based programs. Patterson said volunteers remain important, that a volunteer application is posted on SNR's website, and that SNR does not receive state or federal clinical funding and focuses on social, recreational and life-skills programming rather than clinical services.
Patterson asked regional partners to consider aligning municipal support with where participants live; staff and commissioners welcomed the presentation and asked staff to note SNR's needs as the commission considers parks and community partnerships.
Next steps: SNR will continue fundraising and refine project plans; commissioners and staff may coordinate further on site planning and partnership opportunities.
Attribution: Statements and budget figures are attributed to Lindseay Patterson, identified in the transcript as executive director of Specialized Needs Recreation.
