Agenda - 02-11-2014 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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101 Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan CHAPTER 10-Goals,Objectives,and Recommendations 10 E.The Vision IV—Recreation/Athletics Programs swim lessons, or partner with existing organizations Recommendation#8: Look to Add Programs in Are- that already offer lessons. At present, SportsPlex as Where Residents Have Identified Needs,Consider offers swim lessons, but these fill up quickly due to Partnerships popularity and cost more than most County The County should continue to be flexible and programs. Surveys have also shown the desire for a responsive in the provision of recreation programs public swimming pool. If an outdoor pool were (which includes athletics). Part of being flexible and constructed, this could enable more offerings for responsive is examining the needs identified by the swimming lessons and water safety for those who Community Needs Assessment, and finding ways to cannot afford private lessons. Careful attention offer programs if practicable from a financial and should be paid to coordinating and complementing staff resource standpoint. existing organizations that offer these programs, rather than creating competition. Residents indicated interest in learning how to hike, walk and bike, practice yoga and in swimming The County has taken positive steps toward provid- lessons and summer camps. The recent economic ing complementary and not competitive programs, downturn has increased interest in County summer such as the recent partnership with Hillsborough camps as a low-cost option for youth and children Youth Athletic Association (HYAA) to offer youth summer enrichment. Orange County's standard for baseball and softball, rather than offering a offering programs has been to achieve 100% recov- competing program in the same service area. ery of direct costs for youth and adult programs. If Partnerships, however, must also take into consider- this model is continued, most of the cost for new ation that the County is often the provider of services youth/children's programs could be recovered by for those who cannot afford private or non-profit participant fees, but some portion (indirect costs) programs, and may play an important role in provid- would continue to be subsidized, requiring additional ing recreation opportunities for those who might funding but also meeting important societal and otherwise be unable to participate. The creation of a community needs. "partnership template" would be an instructive tool to help assess potential partnerships and their bene- County staff should conduct follow-up surveys to fits. determine the depth of interest in programs identi- fied in the Community Needs Assessment, and if One particularly fruitful area for program collabora- sufficient participation appears likely, offer new tion appears to exist with the school systems. Efforts programs. While assessing new program opportuni- are currently underway to address Community Use ties, staff should also evaluate existing programs and of School Facilities for Recreation, and it is hoped whether some of the resources allocated to that Orange County and the school systems may low-participation programs should be redirected to find — as many other counties and school systems new priorities. have — ways to maximize the availability of school recreational facilities for public use. Finally, there Programs teaching hiking techniques, walking for may also exist opportunities for the County to coor- fitness, and mountain-biking should be feasible with- dinate more closely with the towns on programs go- in the current program structure. Offering swimming ing forward. Opportunities for hiking and other na- lessons, however, will present challenges from a ture programs in conjunction with Duke Forest, Eno facility and risk management perspective. The Coun- River State Park and other public or publicly- ty should look at the potential for partnering with accessible open spaces should also be explored. SportsPlex management or other local pools for 10-11