Union Reviews Recreation Proposal

BY STEPHEN DREW Independent Editor

Recently, the Greater Northmont Recreation Center Task Force announced that one of their goals was to give a presentation of (to) every municipality within the local area and to present facts concerning the task force and its goal to have area governments form a Joint Recreation District.

On Monday, Union council members beard a report from task force member Charles MacArthur, who is also a member of the Clayton Village Council.

MacArthur discussed with council the types of recreational facilities the task force has considered, the needs for such a facility and ways in which a recreational center would be funded.

According to MacArthur, 6,491 youth participate in Northwest YMCA programs, and a total of 10,568 youngsters, are involved in some type of recreation activity. however, facilities are in high demand. SAY Soccer alone needs about 50 practice places per week," aid MacArthur. "Plus, about one third of the entire Randolph Township area population participate in some type of recreational activity.

In addition to providing facilities that would accommodate the more popular recreational activities, a new rec center could also provide such amenities as an in-line skating track, rock climbing, and other "rare" sporting events.

The Greater Northmont Recreation Center Task Force has supported the idea of establishing a Joint Recreation District which would include all or some of the area government bodies. Each community would be represented by a certain number of trustees, based on the respective community's population.

MacArthur told council that Randolph Township has applied for an ED/GE grant so that a feasibility study could be done, so that the community's interest in a new recreational center could be gauged.

Councilman Larry Beyer asked what would happen if a grant was obtained, a Joint Recreation District was formed before the feasibility study was finished, and the community, when surveyed, decided a rec center would not be in their best interest. "I don't think we want to put the cart before the horse," said Beyer.

In such an instance, MacArthur thought the recreation district would then disband.

According to MacArthur, a recreation center would be 70 percent self-sufficient. When asked where the remaining 30 percent would come from, MacArthur said the remaining balance, which was estimated to be about $1 million, would come from either state grant moneys or through local funding. "A levy would be the last choice," said MacArthur.

Union City Manager John Applegate asked if the task force has compared area recreation centers with the respective community's tax base. MacArthur said such a comparison would be included in a feasibility study.