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Item # 8.4.A. <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Parks and Recreation Commission <br />FROM: Bill Maertz, Director of Parks and Recreation <br />DATE: June 2, 2005 <br />SUBJECT: Lions Park Center: Teen Programming Space <br />Lions Park is exceptionally well located to provide programming for teens. Its proximity <br />to the schools, central location and the high density of rental housing nearby, combine to <br />make Lions Pazk a gathering spot for teenagers in Elk River. The addition of the skate <br />park in 2004 added to the popularity of Lions Park with teens. <br />Staff is exploring options for recreational programming at Lions Park in order to provide <br />alternatives to "hanging out" in an unsupervised environment. One option is the creation <br />of a new staff position titled Teen Programmer. This position would work under the <br />supervision of the Recreation Coordinator, Ross Demant, to provide supervision at the <br />skate park, supervise teen intramural sports, and organize special events and field trips <br />involving teens. <br />Another option is the potential of creating indoor recreation space for teens at Lions Park <br />Center. Staff is examining options for enclosing the picnic pavilion attached to Lions <br />Park Center and creating a teen center/ warming house. This space could be staffed by the <br />Teen Coordinator and along with the skate park become the beginning of Elk Rivers teen <br />outreach infrastructure. Additional concepts include an outdoor climbing rock and a <br />towrope for snowboarding. <br />Staff believes that every avenue for involving and valuing teenagers in Elk River needs to <br />be explored .The potential of Lions Park Center to play a role in teen development is <br />phenomenal and needs to be enhanced as much as possible. <br />