The Community Center Conversation
Outreach Goals
The Community Center Conversation 2
Show.
Provide a firsthand look at the
state of our
Community Center
Listen.
Seek feedback
and priorities for
the future of the
Center
Engage.
Inspire attendees
to spread the word
about our
envisioning
process
Belmont Then & Now
The Community Center Conversation 3
1870
1930
Present Day
Present Day
Belmont Then & Now (Cont.)
The Community Center Conversation 4
1930
1900
Present Day
Present Day
Looking Back to 1948…
The Community Center Conversation 5
The Community Center was originally designed and
built as the Barrett Elementary School
The Barrett Parcel - 75 Years Ago…
The Community Center Conversation 6
A Cornerstone of Our Community
The Community Center Conversation 7
The Community Center has supported
diverse community uses for 75 years, serving as the
backdrop for countless collective memories
Belmont Community Players Community Learning Center Movies in the Parks The Community Center is Now 75 Years
Old and Well Beyond Its Useful Life
The Community Center Conversation 8
“Enhancing the Quality of Life (for All
Ages) in Our Community”
The Community Center Conversation 9
• Licensed childcare
• After-school programs
Led by City staff and partners
• Youth and teen programs
Dance, team sports, STEAM, public speaking,
summer day camps, and more
• Adult programs
Zumba, yoga, meditation, table tennis, crafts
classes, international language groups, and more
• Senior programs
Meditation, memory workshops, aerobics, dance,
strength training, and more
• Grant-funded senior lunch program
• Parks, athletic fields, and open space
Opportunities for youth sports and outdoor
recreation for all ages
Outreach To Date
Open houses
Tabling at
community
events
The Community Center Conversation 10
Presentations
to community
groups
Survey
Survey Results to Date (229 Responses)
The Community Center Conversation 11
95% Residents
Residents Non-Residents
10%
39%
38%
12%
Monthly
Weekly
Occasionally
Never
Most Visit
Occasionally-Weekly
Most Valued in Our Current Center
The Community Center Conversation 12
41 58
87 106
131
135
Other*
Gathering Space
Childcare/After-School
Children's Play Area
Multi-Generational Activities
Sports Courts & Fields
# of Times Selected
*Most frequently: a space for dogs
Single Most Important Service the Center
Currently Provides
The Community Center Conversation 13
“A safe place for my kids to have enrichment activities and play and gather with friends”
“Allowing shared use of a LARGE grassy field. Everyone
wins--families, soccer teams, and dogs.”
“Day care center for kids. The after school and Wednesday programs for middle school kids. Especially Wednesdays
when kids are in school half day.”
“Community garden. I love the way that it's multigenerational.” Most Desired in a Future Center
The Community Center Conversation 14
47 50
67 85
125
138
Other*
Establish emergency shelter
Ensure matching funds
Expand program access and availability
Expand programs and services
Modernize to meet current safety standards
# of Times Selected
*Most frequently: pool, space for dogs, and athletic fields Service/Program Not Currently Provided
But Would Like to See
The Community Center Conversation 15
“More modern facilities, and better parking planning.”
“More sports and other recreational facilities, quality meeting space, a true center for community events.”
“Nice meeting area for seniors. Maybe a low-cost lunch/ coffee shop.”
“The playground needs to be updated, it’s terrible. I live a block away and rarely utilize it for my kids.”
“A community pool would be amazing!”
“Place for year-round off leash dogs.”
What Was in the 2019 Conceptual Design?
The Community Center Conversation 16
• Multi-generational, flexible spaces
• Indoor and outdoor gathering spaces
• Gymnasium
• Pool
• Community room
• Art and fitness spaces
• Preschool
• Teen & senior lounges
• Improved parking and traffic flow
What Has Changed Since Then?
The Community Center Conversation 17
• Pandemic
• Emergencies
• New recreational trends
• New demographic projections
• New developments in the City
• New nearby amenities
What Does Our Future Center Need?
The Community Center Conversation 18
Safe,
Accessible
Spaces
Emergency
Relief Center
Diversified
Funding
Opportunities,
Developer
Contributions,
& Grants
Safe, Accessible Spaces
The Community Center Conversation 19
• Accessibility for all – Our community center
should be welcoming to all ages, all abilities
• Safety every day – Our Center should
incorporate the highest earthquake and fire
safety standards
Emergency Relief Center
The Community Center Conversation 20
• Our Center should serve as an emergency
relief center – Currently, it does not have the
infrastructure or capacity
• Matching funds – The City can leverage
funds from the State or County to help
establish an emergency resource center
Developer Contributions & Grants
The Community Center Conversation 21
• Developer contributions – We are working
hard to secure the continuity of the Community
Center, which also includes considering
developer contributions from new construction
in the City to leverage funding for Community
Center needs
• Grants –Pursuing all available funding
opportunities
Next Steps
The Community Center Conversation 22
Continue to seek grant funding
Continue outreach
Establish timeline
Now It’s Your Turn: Join
The Community Center Conversation!
The Community Center Conversation 23
Take our online survey to share
your feedback and priorities:
www.belmont.gov/communitycenter
Thank you
www.belmont.gov/communitycenter