Feasibility Study for Community Indoor Recreation Facilities 1987
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C I T Y . 0 F
SIl.lna
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aod Community DeveJopn:aent
City.County Building
300 West Ash Street
Po. Box 736
Sa"na. KS &7402-0736
Telephone (913) 827-8781
SalIna City Planning COIIlIDiulon
Salina Board of loalDB Appeah
SalIna City H....tage Commluloa
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RECEIVED
Sfp 8 ]987
CfTl' AA
"IANAGER'S
OFFICE
September 4, 1987
TO: Recreation Facilities Task Force
FROM: Roy Dudark, Chairman
RE: Report No. 2/Upcoming Meetings
Enclosed for your review is Report No. 2 - Community Recreation Needs
Analysis. Several meetings have been scheduled to address the
subject of this report.
Public information meetings have been set for Thursday, September 10,
1987 as follows:
Time
4:00 P.M.
7:30 P.M.
Place
South High School - Theatre
Bicentennial Center - Room 201
Bob Key and I will arrive at South High about 3:30 if anyone wishes
to discuss the format or approach to the public meetings. The
meetings will be,publicized and representatives of community recrea-
tion providers have been formally invited.
On Friday morning, September 11 at 7:00 A.M., the Task Force will
meet in the City Commission meeting room to discuss the content of
Report No. 2 as well as assess information and views presented at
the public meetings. Coffee and doughnuts will be available.
Please give me a call if you have any questions regarding the above.
Sincerely,
~6l~ -
Roy Dudark
Director of Planning
and Community Development
RD/lb
Enc: Report No. 2
Meeting Notes of 8/20/87
cc: Board of City Commissioners
Rufus L. Nye
Don Jolley
Bob Key
MEMBER ' , ' KANSAS LEAGUE OF MUN/CJPfIUT1ES . NA170NAL LEAGUE OF ctTIES
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RECREATION FACILITIES TASK FORCE MEETING
August 20, 1987
Members present:
Roy Dudark, Chairman
Dorothy Kennedy
Don Hoff
Deena Horst
Craig Kern
Scott Haviland
Also present:
Peter Brown
Lillian Zier, Salina Journal
Sydney Soderberg
Don Jolley
Bob Key
Mark Johnson
Chairman Roy Dudark requested that Bob Key open the meeting with
his report on the feasibility study.
Task 1 - General Concept and Service Goals of Recreation Center
Bob Key and Mark Johnson had spent the last couple of days in
Salina checking with other public and private recreation
providers in Salina: YMCA; YWCA; Art Center; Museum; Leisure
Years Center; Salvation Army; 2-3 fitness gyms; martial arts
center. Bob Key reported that Salina appears to have a high
level of interest in and support for recreation activities.
Community Centers can include many other things than just
recreation activities (multi-concept center), but with all the
other things already available in Salina, this focus should be
narrowed. Examples of this would be senior citizens - they like
to have their own space; a library should not be next to a pool,
etc. The report also suggests that a center gives young people a
reason to stay in the community, not move away - recreation is a
lifestyle issue. Cities like Salina need to do more to attract
and keep people than other cities that have beaches, etc. Mr.
Key then asked for questions from the committee.
Roy Dudark asked about two or three models that might fit
Salina's needs. Mr. Key said that in time they would review
several different kinds of centers. Roy suggested having a
center that would be flexible ,for changes over the years. Deena
Horst asked about the report in that it mentioned one center, not
two or more. Mr. Key said that they are not quite that far along
and this report does not make that determination. Recreation
activities should be clustered together for better success. It
gives a more exciting look to the community. Once we get to the
planning stage, we will discuss the number of centers needed.
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Page Two
Public Information Meetings
First meeting - Thursday,' September 10, 1987
4:00 p.m. South High School, Little Theater
7:30 p.m. Bicentennial Center, Rm.1I20l
Notices will be published in the paper a few times prior to the
meeting and TV announcements also. Roy Dudark and Peter Brown
will meet at a later date to discuss getting this information to
the media.
Roy discussed the set-up for the meeting.
introductions. Bob Key will then take over
his report, and then it will be opened
questions and comments.
Roy will handle the
the meeting and give
to the publiC for
The questionnaire will be
meetings. People can fill it
complete it and return it by
included on the questionnaire.
available at the entrance to the
out there or take it home and
mail. A return deadline will be
~-------------------
Bob Key was asked to contact
determine whether use of
Commission beyond the JUly
renegotiation.
Dr. Anthony Tillmans
the gym by t:.e Salina
1, 1988, deadline is
at KTI to
Recreation
subject to
The second public information meeting will be October 1. Times
and locations will be determined at a later date. The Task Force
will meet at 3:15 p.m., September 10, at South High SchoOl, and
will have an additional meeting the next morning at 7:00 a..m. to
discuss Public Information.Meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
1----.. -
Feasibility Study
for
Community Indoor Recreation Facilities
City of Salina, Kansas
ASSJ::SSMENT OF COMMUNITY RECREATION NEEDS
Report 2
Prepared by:
Key & Company
September 4, 1987
Report 2
ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY RECREATION NEEDS
Introduction
This section will examine the status of existing community recreation opportunities
in Salina including a review of service providers in both the public and private
sectors. It will also provide an overview of trends in leisure participation at the
national and local levels, and will look at the socioeconomic characteristics of
the Salina community. Finally, recommendations will be presented for spaces and
facilities needed to accommodate community recreation programs now and in the
foreseeable future.
Study of Recreation Service Providers
Consultants performed a thorough review and study of existing organizations in
Salina (both public and private) which provide some form of leisure or cultural
service.
It was found that Salina citizens are served by a large variety of organizations
which are well established and enthusiastically supported by their respective
clienteles. There is no dearth of facilities or programs by which people may be
creatively occupied and entertained. Among the facilities and programs available
are: The Bi-Centennial Center, rodeo arena and county fair grounds, a
well-developed and lovely park system containing both active and passive
recreational amenities, two private country clubs with golf courses, one municipal
golf course, the recently established Smoky Hill Museum, Salina Community
Theater, Salina Art Center, a large and successful YMCA and YWCA, Leisure
Years Senior Center, Salvation Army, and two colleges, one of which provides
a good sized auditorium for musical and dramatic performances. In addition, there
are numerous commercially operated facilities catering to various recreational
interests including movie theaters, bowling alleys, a skating rink, exercise and
physical fitness salons, dance studios, and game arcades.
Overall, Salina is a community with an abundance of 'things to do' and outlets
for creative energy. This does not mean, however, that there are no obvious
needs in the area of leisure services - as this report will discuss later on.
The agencies and organizations described below were visited and persons in
charge were interviewed to determine the extent and quality of their programs,
populations served, levels of participation, future program plans, locations, and
adequacy of existing facilities. The following is a summary of findings.
Benson's Gym - Located in north Salina, this privately operated business caters
primarily to persons with an interest in body building. There is one large space
(approx. 3,000 sq. ft.) filled with workout machines. Between 70 and 100
customers, 70% of whom are men, pay a monthly fee for the privilege of
unlimited workouts. Although ages range from 12 to 55, most participants are
young men who use the facility an average of four times per week. The business
has been in existence for 8! years during which time the program has held steady.
The owner doesn't do much promotion; however, he stated a desire to expand into
another location offering the same services.
The Gym - Located at Broadway and West Cloud, this facility is similar to the
one described above, but smaller. It offers physical conditioning and body
building.
Sunye's Academy - This commercial business is located at 1805 S. Ohio and has
operated in Salina for 12 years. Its main thrust is training in the martial arts.
Serving men and women, this facility also offers aerobics, floor exercise, nautilus
machines, sun tan beds, sauna, steam room, whirl pool,. and locker/shower
facilities. It comes closest to providing a true 'health club' environment of any
private outlet in Salina. Memberships total 500 to 750 at any given time with
families and all age groups represented. Because of problems with the existing
building, the owner has decided to lease space and move into a shopping center
location in southwest Salina. The program has grown in numbers of participants
during the last two years. A perceived need is for a lap pool serving senior
citizens.
Slender You - This is a body conditioning salon located next door to. Sunye's
Academy. Six mechanical tables are available providing the user with a
progressive series of exercises designed to give a complete workout without
extreme physical effort. The program is good for heart patients, elderly persons,
or anyone who desires low-stress physical exercise. The end-result is primarily
body toning rather than weight loss. The facilities are roomy and attractive.
Customers appear to be satisfied. There is no long term contract required, only
a fee per use.
Della's Dance Studio - This private dance studio is located in downtown Salina
and serves approximately 200 school-age children during the school year and 40
during the summer. Most students are girls. Programs include ballet, pointe,
tap, jazz, acrobatics, and aerobics. Progressive skill levels are emphasized and
students attend out of town dance competitions. As with any enterprenurial
activity, the quality of the service must be good to attract and hold a client
base. The business has been in existence for 7 years; the last 3 years at the
present location containing 10,000 sq. ft. The owner sees interest In dance
increasing as a result of movies and television shows such as 'Solid Gold' which
feature dancing. Many students at this studio also belong to the YMCA or
YWCA. The owner would like more students, but thinks there is room in Salina
for other good studios.
Vivette's Dance Studio - Another private dance studio, operated in the basement
of a home, this facility accommodates 75 to 100 students per month - mostly
girls aged three through eighteen. Programs are essentially like those described
above. The studio has been in operation for 12 years and apparently enjoys a
good following. In the opinion of the owner, a population of 15,000 is required
to support one studio; therefore, no new dance studios are needed in Salina.
Mary Ann Klotzbach's School of Dance - Not interviewed. It is assumec;l that
this studio is similar in most respects to the two described above.
Bowling and Roller Skating - There are two commercial bowling alleys and one
roller skating rink in Salina. They have been in business for some time and are
reasonably successful. Facilities of this type typically attract those in the
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community who have an ongoing interest in the particular activity. The customer
base is usually consistent in their patronage from year to year. The presence
or absence of commercial establishments such as these, together with movie
theaters, arcades, etc. do not materially affect the need for community recreation
programs.
Salvation Army - Located on North Santa Fe in north Salina, the Salvation Army
exists to address the spiritual and recreational needs of low income people who
reside in the area. Charitable assistance is offered to needy persons in the form
of meals, temporary lodging, and help with groceries and utility bills.
Recreational programs include football and basketball leagues for kids through high
school age. The basketball pro'gram is scheduled from late November through the
first of March after school, evenings, and on Saturday. They plan to start a
'Bitty' volleyball program for kids four through nine years old. The
Commander-in-charge indicated a willingness to rent the' gymnasium to the
Recreation Commission for certain uses. This may be a possibility for partial
interim replacement of KTI gym facilities to be lost in 1988.
Leisure Years Center - This facility is operated by the Salina County Commission
on Aging, and therefore is publicly funded and operated. It Is located In
downtown Salina in the former County Court House building. The broad goal
of the agency is to provide a wholesome environment in which senior citizens may
gather, and to assist clients in independent living. Seventy five percent of the
participants are low income and eighty percent are single women. Programs
include daily meals served at the center, dances, fitness activities, arts and crafts
of various types, social events, movies, trips, and transportation to and from the
center and for scheduled shopping. The Salina Recreation Commission provides
recreation programming and personnel to supervise certain activities.
The center director sees a greater recognition among older people of the value
of good nutrition and exercise; hence, there is a definite need for facilities such
as this to accommodate these needs. Seniors are more physically active and
interested in life, and therefore more demanding of programs and facilities which
meet their specific requirements.
Salina Community Theater - The Salina Community Theater was originally founded
in 1960 and has occupied its present facility on East Iron since 1973. The facility
contains approximately 9,000 sq. ft. and 290 permanent seats in the theater. In
addition to a schedule of community theater productions and touring children's
theater during the regular season, the facility also accommodates outside bookings
for dance and music recitals, speakers, and meetings of the City Commission when
large attendance is expected. Total attendance has grown from 6,300 in the first
year to 13,200 last year. Future plans include expanding the facility with a new
scene shop, rehearsal room, costume shop, offices, and larger restrooms.
This appears to be a valuable cultural asset to the community, heavily used and
popular among performers and spectators. Other halls in the city providing
auditorium capability include a 1,100 seat and a 150 seat theater at Marymount
College, a 1,400 auditorium at Central High School, other school auditoriums, and
facilities at the Bi-Centennial Center and Memorial Hall (no longer in use).
Salina Arts Center - Currently housed at Kansas Wesleyan, this organization
3
will soon move downtown to 242 S. Santa Fe. The new facility will contain 7,000
sq. ft. compared to 2,500 sq. ft. at the present facility. The Art Center's
primary function is to arrange exhibits and to provide education in the visual arts
for the Salina public. It is a private, non-profit organization providing art-related
services to the public. Three fourths of the center's participants are children
and one fourth are adults.
The center director has observed a trend of the visual arts becoming more
appreciated in Salina and a recognition of people wanting to enrich their lives
through the arts. The center has sponsored programs in cooperation with the
Recreation Commission and is anxious to continue that relationship.
Smoky Hill Museum - According to its brochure - "The mission of the Smoky Hill
Museum is to create a dynamic, inviting, educational museum that collects,
preserves, researches and interprets the artifacts of Saline County." Located in
a building which originally served as the U.S. Post Office, the museum opened
to the public In October, 1986 and is operated as a division of the Salina Arts
and Humanities Commission. Admission is free.
YWCA - Catering primarily to the needs of women and their families, the YWCA
is a long standing agency in Salina located at 651 E. Prescott. The building
contains a full sized gym, indoor swimming pool, fitness and exercise room, dance
studio, whirlpool, and rooms for pre-school programs. Among the programs offered
are youth basketball leagues for boys and girls, women's and coed volleyball
leagues, pre-school activities, women's aquaclse and therapeutic activities, arts
and crafts, youth gymnastics and tumbling, youth and adult dance, ski trips, and
others as scheduled. Membership in 1986 totaled 4,400, a large majority of
which were women with two or more children who typically visit the facility with
frequent regularity (twice per week or more). Annual membership fees are
assessed together with certain one time registration fees for specific programs.
Trends observed by the staff include an increasing interest in health related
activities (exercise, physical checks, etc.) The. YWCA would like to expand with
facilities which accommodate more men than now attend.
YMCA - This organization is housed in a large facility in central Salina and is
the most substantial provider of recreation services among those interviewed in
connection with this study. The YMCA has been established in Salina since 1886
and has occupied its current 72,000 sq. ft. facility on twenty acres since 1978.
The building contains a 22,000 sq. ft. gymnasium with three full sized (college)
basketball courts, a 25 meter indoor swimming pool, five handball/racquetball
courts with glass backwalls, a large multi-purpose fitness space, health center
facilities for men and women, meeting rooms, offices, shower/locker rooms, and
chapel. Programs include basketball and volleyball leagues for youth from second
grade through high school, handball/racquetball court reservations and tournaments,
lap swimming available all day, aerobics for men and women, soccer for
elementary and junior high boys and girls, adult pick-up basketball, softball for
girls through sixth grade, flag football for second through sixth graders, swimming
lessons during the summer months, and other miscellaneous activities. The
program is heavily sports and fitness oriented. No adult leagues are provided
since this is the emphasis of the Salina Recreation Commission, nor is there any
significant passive activity offered.
The YMCA currently has 9,715 members (about 22% of Salina's population)
consisting primarily of families from all segments of the community and youths
4
who have registered separately for a particular activity. Annual membership fees
provide an incentive for the user to visit the facility and participate in programs
often. Scholarship programs (no fee) are offered for a limited number of kids
who cannot afford regular memberships.
The 'Y' Is obviously a strong and well respected insltution in Salina with a large
and loyal clientele. There has been an effort between the YMCA and Recreation
Commission to cooperate by avoiding duplicate programming. The 'Y' does not
anticipate any physical expansion in the near future nor any aggressive new
programming with the possible exception of bicycling events and juvenile justice
outreach programs.
Salina Recreation Commission - Through an interlocal agreement with the School
Board and the City of Salina, the Recreation Commission has the responsibility
of providing a broad range of recreation services to the public. Historically, this
effort has had no one base of operations; Instead, during the past 13 years it has
made use of some seventeen facilities (mostly small, inconveniently located, and
not designed for the purpose) wherever they could be found In Salina. As pointed
out in Report I, this situation is Inconvenient at best and has had the effect
of subordinating the public recreation program to the priorities of the borrowed
facility's owner. The size of borrowed spaces is acceptable, but the locations
and general adequacy are not.
The Kansas Technical Institute
facility In which public recreation
space for basketball and volleyball
squash, aerobics, and table tennis.
Recreation Center is currently the principal
programs are conducted. This facility provides
leagues, drop-In basketball, handball/racquetball,
Many programs serving various elements of the population are well established
and successful in terms of popularity among users and rate of participation
growth. Typical participants in Salina's public recreation programs are young
married couples with small children who have limited funds for personal
recreation.
The Recreation Commission's role in sponsoring indoor recreation programs has
reached a crossroads and should be more sharply defined at this point to ensure
that the entire spectrum of recreation offerings in the community is planned and
executed in the most effective way possible.
CONCLUSION - The foregoing data support a conclusion that Salina is a well
balanced community with a large and diversified array of leisure and cultural
opportunities for its citizens. Multiple organizations have arisen consisting of
persons committed to some worthwhile activity or program who have had the
energy and dedication to communicate their idea to others and raise the necessary
resources to accomplish their objective; e.g., Salina Community Theater and Salina
Arts Center. One cannot help being very impressed with the number and degree
of success of these organizations, not to mention the positive impact they have
on the quality of life in Salina.
Of the organizations listed above, almost all appear to be utilized to the capacity
permitted by available space, or beyond. In general, they enjoy excellent levels
of participation and are, in fact, experiencing increasinll: levels of participation.
Those organizations whose facilities seem to be somewhat under-utilized are
Benson's Gym (private), Salina Community Theater, the Salvation Army, and Smoky
5
Hill Museum. Given the circumstances of their individual missions, an absence
of large numbers of users at any given time (compared, for example to the
YMCA) is understandable and should not be interpreted as a problem. However,
there may be an opportunity, especially in the case of the Salvation Army, for
more efficient utilization of indoor space.
Trends in Leisure Participation
A knowledge of leisure activity participation trends is helpful in planning a logical
service program for community recreation agencies. An overall awareness of
changes in people's habits and preferences can be useful in anticipating future
programming policies and in predicting physical space needs. Any community
leisure service which responds to changing interests and leads the way in
generating Interest in new activities will be successful and a source of pride to
its patrons. To remain viable as a public service function, the community
recreation program must continually assess the dynamics of leisure behavior at
the national and local levels and apply the insights gained in a practical way.
The following trends and forecasts have been observed in recent years by
professionals engaged in recreation research and general opinion polling.
OAmericans continue to spend a significant percentage of their income on
personal consumption of leisure (recently, 12%) - more than they now spend for
either transportation or medical care.
OThere is increasing diversity in individual leisure patterns.
ORecent fitness studies found almost half of the adult population practicing
some form of exercise on a regular basis - twice as many as twenty years ago.
Jogging, swimming, bicycling, aerobic exercising, rhythmic movement, and vigorous
sports are ways in which people fulfill their desire for fitness as a contribution
to health. Of these, bicycling is the fastest growing sport in America. An
interesting paradox to this however, is that these activities have not resulted in
significant increases in the average levels of personal fitness.
OThe primary group for active sports and those who purchase sports
equipment, those in the 24 - 35 year old category, will Increase by 35% between
1983 amd 1993.
OSharp increases in female sports participation is. expected to continue
because of the changing role of women and federal rulings requiring schools to
provide equal opportunity for women and girls in athletics.
OLeisure has emerged as a separate social insitution which is a vehicle for
self improvement and expression equal to, and in some ways greater than work.
OSince World War II, participation in all types of recreation has increased
because of: increased mobility and disposable income, changes in cultural and
religious attitudes towards leisure, increasing levels of education, and changes in
the status of women.
OSpecific activity trends: 1) Racquetball has become. very popular in recent
6
times as a spart which can be learned quickly and played year raund with persans
af similar skill levels; hawever, participatian levels have declined samewhat during
the last two. years; 2) Swimming remains the number ane participant spart in
the natian with interest In fitness (lap) swimming and actian/fun aquatic
experiences Increasing dramatically; 3) Tennis, after a big surge in popularity
in the 70's, has declined in aver all partlcipatian after peaple discavered It is
relatively difficult to. learn; 4) Physical fitness activities such as aerabic
exercising, bady building, running, and bicycling are still increasing in papularity
as a result af widespread publicity abaut their cantributian to. health; 5) Team
sparts, including basketball and valleyball are increasing in participatian; 6)
Cultural pragrams including dance, theater, visual and perfarming arts have gained
steadily in papularity; 7) Activities far seniar citizens and special papulatians
have increased, due largely to. the increased ability af persans in these graups
to. advacate their needs.
-Oem agraphic and sociaecanamic trends indicate that: 1) Two. aut af three
hausehalds will have no. children by 2000; 2) Mare than half af U.S. papulatian
grawth during the next two. decades will came fram minarity graups; 3) The mast
dramatic shifts in age graups will result In sharp declines in the number af yaung
adults aged 15 - 24 and a big increase in the number af persans 65 and aver;
the median age af the papulatian will cantinue to. mave upward; average life
expectancy reached a new high af 74.9 years in 1986 which also. recarded the
lawest birth rate ever: 64.9 per 1,000 wamen af child bearing age; 4) Middle
class dispasable incame will decline during the nineties; 5) Family structures are
changing - mare unrelated persans living In the same hausehald, smaller family
and hausehald size, mare single heads af hausehalds, cauples deferring having
children; mare wamen in the warkplace.
Many lacal trends mirrar thase at the natlanal level. The fallawing canditians
are apparent in Salina: .
-There is increasing participatlan in fitness activities af all types.
-During the last ten years, the number af basketball teams playing in leagues
aperated by the Recreatian Cammissian has increased by a factar af 2.5; the
number af valleyball teams has almast quadrupled. Handball/racquetball seems
to. be declining.
-Attendance at cammunity theater praductians has mare than daub led since
the present facility apened in 1973.
-Interest in the visual arts is increasing as evidenced by increasing numbers
af participants in arts pragrams.
-The populatian af seniar citizens is increasing alang with visitatian to. the
Leisure Years Center. The 'graying' af the papulatian will create greater demand
far services to. persans in this age categary.
The abave data may be construed to. mean that participation and interest in
leisure and cultural pursuits is increasing at a rate greater than Salina's increase
in populatian. This implies that there is a dynamic and expanding market for
recreation programs which existing praviders shauld be prepared to. serve. With
. the number and diversity af praviders, Salina citizens can laak farward to.
7
improvements in the range and quality of opportunities available.
More couples and working women will be seeking leisure opportunities during
evening and weekend hours.
More people will be seeking low cost leisure services, but will be willing to pay
a reasonable fee for quality experiences.
Child care as a service to parents engaged in recreation will be needed as an
effective way to market the program and as a means of reaching more people.
Characteristics of Salina's Population
Salina's 1986 population was 43,794 persons housed in some 18,445 dwelling units.
Based on these figures, the average household size was 2.37 in 1986 - down from
2.54 in 1980 and 2.93 in 1970. The population appears to have stabilized in terms
of both numbers and growth rate since the closing of Schilling Air Force Base.
The population growth rate has averaged just under two percent per year since
1976. Assuming this rate of growth will remain constant into the next decade,
Salina will have a 1995 population in the neighborhood of 50-52,000 persons.
An examination of the latest census tract data reveals that Salina is an average
community in almost all respects. There are no unusual characteristics of the
population which would lead one to believe that the community would have
markedly different requirements for public services, including recreation. Salina,
however, does have an above-average education level, which may explain the
proliferation of intellectually influenced cultural institutions. The presence of
two four year colleges tends to contribute considerably to the intellectual fabric
of the community.
Referring to the Census Tract Map on the following page, the following patterns
concerning socioeconomic distribution may be discerned:
"The largest concentration of persons occurs in
3, I, and 9. The lowest concentration of persons
Tracts 2, 8, and 10.
Tract 5, followed by Tracts
is in Tract 6, followed by
"The largest number of families with children under 18 reside in Tract 5,
followed by Tracts 9, 3, and 1. The fewest number of families with children
under 18 occurs in Tract 6, followed by Tracts 2, 10, and 8.
"The most number of persons aged 65 and over live in Tract I, followed
by Tracts 3, 9, and 4. The fewest number of persons of the same age live in
Tract 6, followed by Tracts 7, 5, and 10.
"The largest number of minority persons live In Tract 2, followed by Tracts
3 and 5.
"Disabled persons appear to be evenly distributed throughout the community.
"The area with the highest mean family income is Tract 10, followed by
Tracts 7, 8, and 9. The area with the lowest mean family income is Tract 2,
8
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followed by Tracts 3 and 6.
"The largest number of families living below the poverty level is in Tract
Tract 2, followed by Tracts 3 and 1.
Indoor Space and Facility Needs for Community Recreation
Based on the foregoing analysis of community conditions and the consultants'
judgment of needs which should be addressed, the facilities described below are
suggested for initial consideration. The available alternatives for meeting these
(or other) needs will be assessed in subsequent phases of the feasibility study after
review by the Recreation Task Force, staff, and public.
These facilities, in addition to the ones presently available, will accommodate
public programs currently in place and will prOVide a reasonable amount of space
for increased participation during the next five to seven years - either through
market demand or through normal population growth. To anticipate future needs
as well as current needs is prudent and logical.
Facility Needs
"Three Full Sized Basketball Floors, or two basketball floors plus a large
multi-purpose space suitable for gymnastics, aerobic exercising, and related
activities.
- Justification: These facilities will accommodate basketball and volleyball
leagues, team practice (currently unavailable due to lack of space), gymnastics,
aerobic exercise, pick-up basketball, and other court games which may be deemed
suitable.
KTI-Salina Recreation Center, the main facility housing indoor sports
activities, will no longer be available as of July, 1988. KTI administration needs
the building for campus programs, but has indicated a willingness to allow some
continuing use of the facility for public programs on a limited basis. Such use
may be worthwhile for temporary or supplemental needs.
As the participation figures above make clear, organized leagues are
increasing in popularity to the point where available space is severely strained.
Further demand will develop; therefore, dependable space must be found.
This recommendation is made under the assumption that school gyms and
other facilities will continue to be used to the extent they are available and
convenient for league games as well as practice. This will ensure that all
community facilities are utilized in the most efficient manner.
The position of the Recreation Commission staff that programming in
miscellaneous scattered facilities creates unacceptable problems is valid. From
the users' point of view, locations are sometimes inconvenient, games are
cancelled on short notice, shower/locker facilities are lacking, league schedules
are condensed, and the future status of the program is uncertain.
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OIndoor/Outdoor Aquatics Facility
-justification: This facility will be suitable for leisure aquatics, swimming
instruction, fitness, and therapeutic swimming.
All existing public and institutional pools in Salina (indoor and outdoor) have
the traditional rectilinear design which is primarily intended for racing competition
rather than instruction or recreational swimming. Such pools are lacking in leisure
ambience and therefore unattractive to large numbers of potential users. A design
approach which creates a modern leisure aquatics environment will extend the
benefits of swimming to many times the number of present users.
The combined recreation agencies should adopt as their common goal the
teaching of every child in Salina to swim with proficiency by the time he/she
reaches the sixth grade. Current facilities and programs are inadequate for this
task. To be successful, such a program will require the cooperation of the school
district, year round pool space, and an ongoing public Information campaign
designed to saturate parents, teachers, and children with the benefits of the
program.
OSupport Facilities for the Above
-justification: Gymnasium and aquatics activities require restrooms,
shower/locker rooms, and storage space. Other amenities which would be
compatible and highly desirable include whirlpool, sauna, and steam rooms.
oPassive Activity Space
-justification: The agencies surveyed do not appear to emphasize 'quiet'
activities to a great extent; for example, the YMCA is almost totally sports
oriented, offering little in the way of passive activities.
Passive recreation has a value separate and distinct from active pursuits.
It appeals to a broader cross section of users and can fulfill the leisure needs
of many at a very economical cost.
Adequate space will enable the programming of many of the activities
suggested in Report I, including all class oriented functions, arts and crafts, club
activities, cooking classes, practical knowledge series, music, and private group
reservations.
This space will be very flexible - capable of accommodating new and
innovative programs as they are developed and implemented. It will also be
needed for senior citizen programming as the size of this population grows and
greater pressure is felt by the Leisure Years Center, which has limited space in
which to expand.
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