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Board hears staff warning on program capacity as youth sports grow; turf fields suggested
Summary
Staff said participation in city recreation programs has grown sharply and current staff capacity limits expansion; board members asked staff to consider turf fields and other options in the CIP while exploring partnerships with contractors and nonprofits.
City recreation staff told the board they are seeing rapid enrollment growth and that staff capacity is constraining program expansion. “We are bursting out of the seams in our programming where we're having to turn kids away,” Jeffrey said, noting a roughly 300% increase in participation since the city's programs began four years ago.
Board members discussed options including adding turf playing surfaces in the CIP, using contract classes (I9) or partnering with organizations such as the YMCA for programming, and recruiting volunteers to sustain league play. A board member asked staff to “look into adding turf fields for soccer, baseball” in the next one to two years to provide more reliable playing surfaces in wet weather; staff acknowledged irrigation, staffing and cost considerations and said they would evaluate feasibility as part of CIP and budget planning.
Jeffrey said staff will complete feasibility work and coordinate with engineering and park CIP staff before proposing any budget changes, and that contracting may shift costs and affect pricing for participants if outside providers are used.
