Brewster Rec Gets Needs Assessment Update

BREWSTER – Limited staffing, a lack of indoor space and finite programming were the top highlights from a recent recreation department needs assessment. 

 Consultants from BerryDunn joined select board members, Recreation Director Mike Gradone and members of the recreation commission on Monday to present preliminary findings from the needs assessment before crafting a final report. 

 The needs assessment was broken into four phases: discovery, engagement, analysis and a final report. During the engagement phase, consultants met with department staff, hosted three focus groups with the council on aging, department affiliates and the recreation commission, attended two recreation programs, hosted a public open house and conducted an online survey. 

 Regarding demographics, the consultants found that the population was projected to increase by 2029; from 2010 to 2029, the growth was projected to be just under 1,500 people. The median age is far greater than the rest of Massachusetts, sitting just under 62 years old. 

 They also found that a lack of indoor space prevents the department from offering additional programming. According to the presentation, the rec department offers less than the averages in the BerryDunn database. It also offers more than Orleans but less than Yarmouth, Chatham, Dennis and Harwich. 

 While youths make up about 15 percent of the population, 71 percent of programs are geared toward this demographic. Adults ages 20 to 54 make up around 29 percent of the population and are only offered 9 percent of the programming. 

 A common theme among participants was the collaboration and cooperation with rec department staff. Internal feedback suggested that the full-time staff are stretched way too thin to provide additional programming, especially with the inclusion of the new outdoor spaces at the Sea Camps properties. 

 While respondents noted the lack of indoor space, many were concerned with the cost and tax increases that would stem from building a new community center. However, 58 percent of survey respondents found investing in a new community center was important. 

 The consultants received just over 1,000 responses from the online survey, 74 percent from full-time residents. Around 61 percent of respondents were households with two adults and no children under 18 years old. 

 The top three reasons for lack of participation in rec programs were not knowing the offerings, busy schedules preventing participation and lack of interest in the programs offered. 

 The final recommendations were broken down into three categories: operations, programming and facilities. 

 They advised the department to strengthen outside partnerships, transition two part-time positions to full-time and consider adding a part-time communications role to help with publicizing programs. They also suggested implementing a tool to evaluate program requests from the community and utilizing data to track enrollment and project programming needs. 

 In the programming section, they advised the town to increase pool access and add aquatic programs like water aerobics and swim lessons. They also said the department should expand programs for all demographics and include more nature-based activities using existing resources like hiking trails. 

 For the final facilities section, the team recommended finding new indoor spaces through other avenues such as renting or leasing. They also suggested using other funding sources for the community center such as grants, partnerships or naming rights. The final recommendation involves finalizing the accessibility transition plan and continuing improving accessibility across the park system. 

 “They [residents] admire what you do,” said Select Board Chair Mary Chaffee of the recreation department. “They appreciate it, but there is a hunger for even more programs in the community at the same time that we’ve just seen that there are significant limits on the spaces that we have available which all feeds into the ongoing need to gather data and continue to have a conversation about a potential community center.” 

 Chris Ellis, vice chair of the recreation commission, commended Gradone for the new summer programming at the Sea Camps bay property. He said his two kids have attended for the last three weeks and it is “far superior” to anything he could’ve imagined. 

 He also agreed there needs to be a more formal way to receive feedback from the community. 

 Peter Jelinek, the newest member of the commission, emphasized how much the department has been able to do with such little funding. In the short term, he suggested choosing one or two items to focus on and address so nothing is falling through the cracks. 

“I just think the recreation department does a whole lot with a little, and I want to make sure that’s emphasized,” said Assistant Town Manager Donna Kalinick. “It is in the report, but I think it bears saying it out loud.”

 A final report from BerryDunn will be available soon and ultimately lead to more discussions about how to address community concerns. While no formal decision was made Monday, all members agreed that the findings will help facilitate more conversations about programming and the community center in the future.