Parks board previews opening weekend, membership prices and safety plan for new 'Core' facility

The Green City Parks and Recreation Board on Aug. 6 heard staff previews of the new “Core” facility, including membership pricing and safety measures tied to the facility’s attachment to a middle school.

An agency official described the charter membership package as a discounted introductory offer: “In the first year, if you sign up, it's a $100 a person, dollars 7 and 40¢ a month because you get 13 and a half months,” the official said, adding that charter members will receive early events and value-added benefits leading up to the public opening.

The board was told the Core’s public opening weekend will run Nov. 15–16, with a ribbon cutting at 9 a.m. Nov. 15 and an open-house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 15. Staff invited board members to a preview tour; one tour is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 13, and the facility is expected to be accessible for more tours on Aug. 22.

Why it matters: The Core is a major new recreational asset for the city and the department is balancing public access and convenience with safety because the facility is adjacent to a school. The board’s discussion focused on how to reconcile community expectations about open access with school-day security protocols.

Board and staff described several access controls that will be used during school hours, including photo identification and periodic membership scans. An agency official said the facility will use the same licensed screening system used by the school and that the department is still finalizing operational details.

Staff also proposed a seasonal parent pass to allow parents to attend practices and use the facility during team practice times; the proposed fee is about $25 per season. The agency official cautioned that the background-screening process could prevent access for individuals with certain records, acknowledging this may limit some parents’ ability to enter during practices.

Staff told the board that the Core’s turf replacement issue that had delayed work was addressed and that new turf was being laid the day of the meeting. The official said staff are testing security and operational systems and expect more staff access by mid-August.

The board urged staff to be transparent about pricing and safety protocols in public communications. The department plans to post a recorded presentation and supporting materials on the city website; staff also said the membership and safety information was covered in a city council presentation earlier in the week.

Next steps: Staff will finalize tour dates and operational procedures, and the department is scheduling charter-member events through Nov. 30. The public opening weekend is set for Nov. 15–16; additional details will be posted on the city’s Parks and Recreation web pages.