Recreation Closings, Layoffs and Expansion Cited in County's Plan

Recreation centers will close and employees will lose their jobs under a strategic plan proposed by the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department, which also calls for a regionalization and expansion of the Brandon Community Center on Sadie Street.

The “strategic plan” under discussion calls for consolidating the county’s community centers into fewer, larger centers and thereby help allow for a decrease in staffing overall to the equivalent of 391 full-time employees, down from 534.

In all, the county operates 42 centers. The proposal calls for nine centers to remain in business as regional centers, with increases in size where necessary. Also, to build three centers.

• Remaining as they are would be the University Center, Northdale and All People’s centers.
• Remaining open, but with expanded spaces, would be the centers in Brandon, Westchase, Town ‘N’ Country, Thonotosassa, Gardenville and Ruskin.
• New centers would be built in Keystone, Progress Village and FishHawk. (See Bloomingdale Patch report.)

Collectively, the current size of the 42 centers  is 242,000 square feet. The proposed plan would raise that level to 250,000 square feet.

“With the larger centers the quality of programs for a more diverse age group increases,” according to the strategic plan proposed April 21. “The abiilty to serve families concurrently at the center increases.”

Moreover, the report notes, “The servcie area of the larger center places wach within a five to 15 minute drive maximum to all citizens of Hillsborough County.

The strategic plan can be viewed online. A PowerPoint presentation detailing the plan also is available online.

A series of public meetings -- including one in Brandon -- have been scheduled to discuss the plan and hear from community residents (see list below).

“We are looking for input from the public and to explain and discuss the plan,” said Rina Rojas, an assistant to Mark Thornton, director of the county's parks, recreation and conservation department.

The department oversees more than 70,000 acres of land, more than 50 sports complexes facilities and more than 180 parks, with 42 staffed community centers.

In addition to the proposal to close 30 centers and to expand and regionalize the remaining 12 centers, county officials are considering contracting with local businesses to perform park and athletic field maintenance. Also, to sell naming rights, sponsorships and advertising and to use technology for online registration and payments.

Meetings to discuss the strategic plan are set to begin at 6:30 p.m. and the public is encouraged to attend and comment on the plan.

The Greater Brandon area meetings will be held:

• June 9, Brandon Community Center, 502 East Sadie St.
• June 22, at the Riverview Civic Center, 11020 Park Drive, Riverview

Additional meetings are planned for:

• June 1, Northdale Recreation Center, 15550 Spring Pine Drive, Tampa
• June 7, Gardenville Recreation Center, 6219 Symmes Road, Gibsonton
• June 8, Winston Recreation Center, 7605 Destin Drive, Tampa
• June 14, Thonotosassa Recreation Center, 10132 Skewlee Road, Thonotosassa
• June 15, University Area Recreation Center, 14015 North 22nd St., Tampa
• June 16, All People’s Life Center, 6105 East Sligh Ave., Tampa
• June 20, Westchase Recreation Center, 9791 Westchase Drive, Tampa
• June 21, Town ‘N Country Recreation Center, 6039 Hanley Road, Tampa
• June 23, Ruskin Recreation Center, 901 6th St. S.E., Ruskin

 For more information, call Rina Rojas at 813-635-3501.

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