Star Tribune Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:38:54 GMT
St. Paul looks to nonprofits to manage recreation
The city is working to make deals with nonprofit groups to take over the management of eight rec centers to cut costs. When Kirk Wythers heard about St. Paul's plans to shutter some recreation centers because of budget constraints, he grew a bit concerned. Then the president of the St. Paul Blackhawks Soccer Club got excited about the prospect of taking over one of the centers with the goal of creating a European-style soccer training facility for youths. As of last week, it did. The Blackhawks now have their own home at the Orchard Recreation Center in the North End neighborhood, and the city doesn't have to pay for utilities or staffing the center anymore. The city has or is working on lining up deals with nonprofit groups to manage eight of its 41 rec centers, as a way to keep the buildings open and available to community members rather than locking the doors. "The deal was, we move in and they forward us the bills," Wythers said. Last fall, Mayor Chris Coleman suggested closing 10 centers to cut costs, but community feedback led to keeping Northwest Como and Prosperity open.
[[keywords: Parks;Living;PropertyTax;Metro;]]
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