Parks Director Outlines Massive Cutbacks At Packed Brandon Meeting

With a packed house listening in, the director of Hillsborough County’s Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department outlined his department’s plans for dramatic cutbacks in programs and facilities June 9 in Brandon.

Mark Thornton spent an hour describing his department’s “strategic plan” to lay off staff, mothball recreation centers and eliminate the county’s after-school program which is based at recreation centers around the county. It was the last in a series of public meetings asking for public input no the recommendations which will be voted on by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

“We have to learn how to thrive within our means,” Thornton told the audience of more than 50 people at the Brandon Recreation Center. The implosion of the housing market and steep declines in revenue from property taxes have made the changes necessary, Thornton said.

“Since 2007, all we have done is patch the holes and gone year to year trying to keep what we have. Our goal now is to establish a plan that allows us to live within our means and provides for long-term financial stability.”

The cost-cutting proposals would save $7.5 million annually and would entail:

• Mothballing 25-30 recreation centers (residents would still be able to rent those centers)
• Upgrading the remaining 10-12 recreation centers – Brandon Recreation Center would get a new gymnasium under the plan. No final decision has been made on which centers will be mothballed.  
• Cutting parks department staff from 534 to 391
• Eliminating after-school care at the county’s recreation centers
• Contracting out maintenance at local parks and athletic fields to private companies

Recreation centers in Brandon and Bloomingdale would remain open under a “regionalization” strategy which would see more programs at the remaining centers.

Betty Orlandi, a member of the Brandon Homemakers group that regularly meets at the Brandon Recreation Center, said the center plays an important part in her life and she did not want to see any changes.

“I want them (the parks and recreation department) to know I have a lot of friends here who use this center 2-3 times a week. It’s not just kids but seniors. It’s not only important for our groups who meet here but just for the social aspect to get out and enjoy each other’s company.”

Robert Herman snagged an early seat near the front row for the presentation. He wanted to make sure he was heard when it came to the recommendation to eliminate the after-school care program.

“The information they are giving out about other programs for kids to replace the after-school program here is false,” said Herman who has three young children in the program. “Those programs they suggest are already full. Then they suggest the Host program at the school but that leaves kids stuck in a cafeteria for three hours with maybe 200 other kids. What kind of program is that?”

Currently, Herman’s youngsters have to just walk across the street from Yates Elementary School to attend the after-school program the Brandon Recreation Center. The school is only yards from the center.

“Most people can’t afford day care so what do we do? Let their young kids walk home? But it seems like they have already made their decision to close the after-school program. It would have been nice if they had informed us earlier.”

Elizabeth Belcher said she was concerned that as community centers are being mothballed, the new $7 million Regent building in Riverview should be open to more public use.

“It was built with taxpayer money and it is supposed to be serving the community but it does not appear to be doing that. If the after-school program closes why can’t we have it over there?”

The department’s entire strategic plan can be viewed online.

For more information about the strategic plan, call Rina Rojas, Parks, Recreation and Conservation, at 813-635-3501.