City Council

I @ t i o,c /d, f. i:H"il.on;:o;00, { .ctober 3t , t-?rL3- couNc lL HEtto t784' tF=[fl" (b? .Tzoctober AP'rBR@Y ocT 81 1912 TO llayor and C i ty Counc i I TTIE CITY COU|JCIL FROH: City Hanager BY l I SUBJECT: Recreat ion p rogram for southeast and southwe ,, "r#€{#riT}:** ln August of this year the Oklahoma Qity Flousing Authority received an approximate 508 cut in operating budlet. This action rr€c€ssitated the el imination of 0CHA's community serviice personnel and the closing of the conmunity recreation centers in the general occupancy projects. With the closing of the centers, a rqcreation void has developed in two specific areas, the vicinity of SE 15 and Grand Boulevard, and Sll 15 and Portland Avenue. Previously, the OCHA had provided recreation services to project tenants and neighborhood residents in the community centers. The recreation programs offered r^Ere at best sparse and unorganized, but were nonetheless a focal point for the neighborhood youth. With the closing of the centers, it has become evident that there are no recfeation facilities or programs available to the youth in these areas. There are approximately 1760 children between the ages of 5 and 18 in both projects with at least a comparable population in the surrounding neighborhoods. I There are no recreation facil ities olr programs within reasonable proximity of either neighborhood. This is evident even in light of the fact that Hamilton Courts is adjacent to Trosper Park which has no specific youth recreation facility or program and that Kerr Village is adjacent to Park Department owned land along the Canadian River which also has no recreation facility or program. Uith the closing of the two centersJ residents of both areas have appeared before the City Council, Health Dep{rtment, Housing Authority, and others, expressing their needs for recreaticin and other servlces. Subsequent to these aPPearances city staff has met with pertinent agencies and citizens in seeking a solution. lt was apparent from tl|e meetings that recreation was viewed as the most pressing problem in the SEland SW neighborhoods. Responding to the expressed need for recreation servides, meetings between the City,0CHA, and Community Action Program were held to determine what resources might be avail- albe for use in these areas. lt is pertinent to point out that all other areas appear to be adequately served by existing recreation facilities and programs. it a Counci I t{erp }b. 1784-72 .'.ti 0ctober 2!, 1972 Page 2 Specif ical ly, the Conrnunity Action lrogram has cormited to hire two l recreation aides and to reassign tv{b Vista Outreach Persons to be assigned to the Parks and Recreation Department, Provided that the City assiln tvro recreation supervisors to provide supervision for recreation progi"rt in the Hamilton Courts andl Kerr Village areas. This would p.oiid. equipment and supplies to #t.y out a true recreation Program. The Oklahoma City Housing Authoritj has committed to refurblshing both cormunity service centers and doin( minor facility modification to acconmodate the programs. Additiorial ly the Housing Authority wi I I provide janitorial services and maintenanc4 for the centers. They have also indicated that they can provide so0e outside recreation facil ities. It is anticipated that the City's qost in regards to this program would amount to approximately $20,000 for a year-round recreation Program which would include supervision, suppl ier and equipment. lt is estimated that the conmitments of the Housing Authority and CAP will be approximately $65,000 in services and materials. It is recorrnended that Council app1ove the expenditure on the parts of the City in delivering recreation iervices in the existing community centers by providing two recreatiolr sqPervisors, supplies and equipment, with the funds to come from the cohtingency fund and the Hathaway Fund. Res tf v ubmi tt N. Ross City Hanager