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Home My WebLink About2014-10-31-CCAC-rpt (Programs Group)Community Center Advisory Committee - Programs Group Recommendations and Report on Activities October 31, 2014 Final Programs Group Jon Himmel Laura Hussong Florence Koplow Leslie Zales Sheila Butts (Assistant Director, Recreation) Charlotte Rodgers (Director, Human Services) Karen Simmons (Director, Recreation) Charge of the Programs Group Fill gaps in programs and services Review equipment needs Collaborate with community groups Provide intergenerational /multicultural programming Describe room utilization* Suggest role of volunteers* Plan programming for phased opening* Describe staffing needed to support programs* ( *Overlap with Governance Group) Process • Met with and /or collected materials from: Recreation Department, Human Services Department, Cary Memorial Library, Community Center Task Force, Lexington Youth Services Council, Council on Aging Programs Group, Senior Center stakeholders, Diamond Middle School students, Lexington Community Center Open House and suggestion boxes, Toward Independent Living and Learning, Inc., LABBB Collaborative, Lexington At Home, Bicycle Committee, Lexington Community Farm, Brookline Teen Center, Lexington Community Education, Town staff, Community Center Advisory Committee Governance working group, and the Lexington Board of Health • Created a master matrix of all existing and suggested programs based on collected materials • Site visits to Harwich Community Center, Belmont Beech Street Center, Natick Community Senior Center, Brookline Teen Center, Hudson Senior Center, Weston Community Center, and Duxbury Community Center • Staff compiled list of equipment required for building and programs • Broke days into five blocks of time to facilitate planning and find programming gaps: (6 -9am, 9 -noon, noon -3pm, 3 -6pm, 6 -10pm) 1 Note: Statements within quotation marks are specific positions voted at meetings by the Programs Group Findings • Matrix records 680 programs: 171 existing, 60 new, 88 future, 52 citizen run, 103 offsite representing over 11,000 program hours. • The building is roughly 12% public multipurpose rooms, 19% public special purpose rooms (fitness, dining, workshops), 16% predominantly public drop -in; the rest of the building is dedicated to circulation, storage, staff, and building support including bathrooms, HVAC, and mechanical space • Transportation to the Lexington Community Center (LCC) is critical to ensure success of programs • Program management staff required to manage programs during the various phases of operation (see "Phased Opening" on p. 3) • Building management staff to be in charge of operations and space within the building, plus custodial support. • Special use, multi - purpose, and drop -in areas require different usage policies. • It is critical to make the LCC fresh, inviting, comfortable, responsive, easy and fair to use. • The LCC needs a "WOW! Factor" that makes it different and exciting • Critical new and expanded programming: • Working adults and seniors • Teens • Inclusion of those with special needs • Families on weekends and evenings • At -home citizens of all ages, interests and abilities • Exercise, health and wellness for all ages and abilities • Socialization for all ages, interests, and abilities • Opportunities for community involvement • Centralized services and activities (the "Hub ") • Connection to other community members • Sense of belonging to the larger community 2 Note: Statements within quotation marks are specific positions voted at meetings by the Programs Group Recommendations • Hire a Director of LCC, before the LCC opens, to help manage process • Provide staff for building management • "A building manager is needed to provide for safety and protection of building and visitors during all hours the building is open. This is in addition to custodial staff." • Provide staff for program management • "A staff member must provide active program development and community outreach; for new participants, new programs, and new partnerships." • "Staff must ensure the diversity of programming, and fair access for all" • Professional staff needed at the front desk, with goal of one -stop shopping • "There should be a warm, welcoming, consistent, and reliable presence at the front desk to be the face of the LCC to the public. Volunteers can serve in various capacities such as giving tours." • Transactions are to be processed electronically • Purchase furniture and equipment required to provide the programs "We feel that a huge part of the Wow! Factor will be the look and feel of the building when people walk in. There should be a substantial investment in furniture that creates a welcoming environment and conversation areas throughout the building. This must be in place from the first day the building is open to the public" • Conversational /recreational seating, tables • Game room equipment • Table tennis equipment • Billiard area equipment • Fitness and Cardio Room equipment • Computer Room computers • Phased Opening (contingent upon funding) • Initial opening [soft] with existing staff and programs, plus some low - impact, high - interest "WOW! Factor" gap programs to generate interest and excitement during normal business hours • Interim operation, adding staff, hours of operation, and programs • Grand Opening Fall Festival with expanded offerings 3 Note: Statements within quotation marks are specific positions voted at meetings by the Programs Group • Fully operational after one year • Space available for community- sponsored programs, subject to usage policy and LCC Director approval • Clinical services will be limited to Human Services and Recreation Department program offerings • Shops Two public special - purpose rooms are identified for the following programs: • Workshop is to be the home of the Elmer Bull Fixlt Shop program and other programs as scheduled • Gift shop program follows merchandise model of other centers selling new items, gifts, handmade arts and crafts, and LCC branded items • Lexington Community Center must cooperate with other Town entities • "LCC offerings will be geared to the community's needs, but the LCC will be only one component of a coordinated Town -wide array of programs and services, including Cary Library, schools, and other current providers. The LCC will not assume the programs of these other providers, but will work cooperatively with them." This is one of the primary functions of the LCC Director • We recognize that accessible transportation to the LCC is a critical component of creating successful programs • Recreation Department will continue and expand (as space and resources permit) its current program offerings • The kitchen will be used for programs consistent with the LCC use policy 4 Note: Statements within quotation marks are specific positions voted at meetings by the Programs Group �', II�IIIIIIIIIIII illlllllllll 111111 �.,. I,,,I„ These two pictures were taken in the Hudson Senior Center Gift Shop. Our Selectman Michelle Ciccolo was instrumental in the renovation of this lovely building. 5 Note: Statements within quotation marks are specific positions voted at meetings by the Programs Group �uuulllllllllllll The gift shop staff readying their Fall - themed display 6 Note: Statements within quotation marks are specific positions voted at meetings by the Programs Group