Should Doylestown Township build an indoor recreation center? What should it or shouldn’t it include?
Reaction to a proposed center has been mostly positive. As the municipality is exploring possibilities, residents were invited to share their ideas during a community visioning meeting held last Thursday night, Sept. 19, at the township building, 425 Wells Road, Doylestown.
The meeting was facilitated by township planner Judy Stern Goldstein, of Boucher & James Inc.
Participants, about 30 strong, were split into three groups of 10, answering four questions to share their interests, ideas and what they’d like to see included and what they wouldn’t want in an indoor community recreation center.
Towards the end of the 90-minute public meeting, Stern Goldstein reported there is an appetite in the community for more indoor recreational space. Residents would like to see children’s activities, classes for the neighborhood’s large senior population, gyms and basketball courts.
A new facility could offer residents indoor space, such as class-rooms and court space.
A potential indoor recreation facility could also include amenities for all ages. Many questions still need to be answered before a potential facility can be built, however.
At this time it’s planned to be located at the back of Central Park on New Britain Road. Exact costs will be known once the facility is fully designed, engineered and bid. User fees for classes and rentals of the facility will be incorporated. The facility would be paid for through tax dollars with revenues and expenses budgeted annually.Partners, sponsors and/or donors could be considered.
The next steps in the process will include incorporating the information from this meeting into a report for the board of supervisors’ review and consideration.
Following the meeting, Jean Gray of Doylestown said, that while she wouldn’t necessarily like to see an indoor recreation center built because being in her 70s, she doesn’t believe that she would use it.
“I don’t want to play basketball,” she said, adding that she attended the meeting to participate and be part of the community.
Stern Goldstein commented “It’s always inspiring to see the community come out and participate in a meeting like this. We had some great input and truly appreciate the time and energy our residents devoted to this exercise.”
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