Department of Parks and Recreation
Warminster Township
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PARKS & RECREATION IS HERE TO STAY!
In the past five months numerous discussions and changes have taken place in regards to the possible closing of the WREC. We are pleased to announce that Parks & Recreation will be remaining at the WREC through 2012 and for the foreseeable future. To keep residents informed, below is a synopsis of what has been happening:
In late spring, the Township was informed by almost all of the preschool agencies that lease classroom and office space at the WREC that they were leaving. All were moving to the Leary Elementary School building, which had been closed as a school at the end of the 2010/11 school year by Centennial School District. The loss of the rental fees paid by these agencies, which fund WREC Center building operations, would result in a budget deficit in the Parks and Recreation Department for 2011 & 2012.
On July 21, 2011, a joint meeting of the Centennial School Board and the Warminster Township Board of Supervisors was held to discuss construction of new school facilities in the municipality and the WREC. The Township was seeking the School District’s reversionary interest in the WREC facility so that the Township would own the building outright, and, in exchange, the School District wished to obtain an easement and considerations for future construction projects from the Township. At that meeting, the two Boards agreed that it might be practical to close the WREC at the end of 2011, and move the Parks and Recreation Department and programs to Leary School.
On August 11, the Board of Supervisors formed the WREC Study Committee (WSC), consisting of staff and community volunteers, to: 1) analyze and make recommendations regarding the future location the WREC – staying at the WREC, moving to Leary or Longstreth, or building a new facility; and, 2) develop a balanced budget for the next several years.
In September, the WSC met for the first time and reviewed a plan of action, determined the course of meetings until the end of the year, and assigned tasks to members for items related to budget projections.
On October 26, the Study Committee participated in a tour of Longstreth School to compare it to the WREC facility as an alternative to Leary. Although Longstreth School looks better cosmetically, we have since learned that the same issues that plague the WREC – costly roof repairs – may soon be an issue at Longstreth.
On November 1, the group met to review various budget options. The purpose of this meeting was two-fold:
1) To determine if a move to Leary made fiscal sense…it didn’t. Moving to Leary would result in a loss of program revenue due to a reduction of space allocated to P&R, and would result in additional expenses associated with the move. When all factors were considered, a move to Leary could not be justified. (On November 18, 2011, the Centennial School Board posted a bid for the sale of Leary School thus removing this option from the list of alternatives).
2) To prepare a preliminary budget for 2012 based on remaining at the WREC for the Board of Supervisors to include in their annual preliminary budget discussions.
At this meeting the group also discussed the several additional options for housing the Parks & Recreation Department and programs – remaining at the WREC (with or without the upper wing and with or without a new roof), moving to Longstreth, building a new Parks and Recreation Center at either WCP or the present location.
On December 6, the Study Committee met to continue discussion of long term balanced budgets and to further refine facility options. The options now include:
1) Staying at the WREC
a. No change to the facility – few or no rentals clients – low cost roof repairs will last three years or longer - new roof will eventually cost $1.0 million
b. Make investment to improve upper wing classrooms – aggressively pursue rental clients - low cost roof repairs will last three years or longer - new roof will eventually cost $1 million
c. Demolish upper wing at a cost of $102,000 and reduce expenses associated with this area – no rental clients - low cost roof repairs will last three years or longer - new roof will eventually cost $650,000
d. Demolish upper wing – build a new gymnasium at a cost of $1.5M to better serve community -- low cost roof repairs will last three years or longer - new roof will eventually cost $650,000
2) Build a new facility at WCP – 40,000 sq ft – $7.4 million
The committee is currently working on evaluating costs and practicality for all of the above options in preparation for a presentation to the Board of Supervisors in the spring.
The next meeting of the WREC Study committee is scheduled for January 9, 2012
