Trends

• A standard level of service for indoor recreation facilities is between 1 and 2 square feet per resident.
• Many parks and recreation departments are incorporating arts or enrichment classes, but very few are including dedicated spaces in the facility.
• Inclusion of weight/cardio/group exercise drives membership and membership is a huge contributor to cost recovery. Many organizations are moving towards a portion of group exercise being included with membership but requiring additional fees for specialty classes.
• Gymnasiums are a common building block for a facility, typically with a minimum of two courts.
• Indoor walking/jogging tracks typically accompany a gymnasium space and may snake their way around the building. The trend with walking tracks is elevation changes.
• Un a collegiate level, recreation facilities are moving towards a wellness focus. B*K would expect to see that trend begin to trickle down to a local government level.
• Facilities are being designed with sustainability and resiliency as a priority. This includes flexibility in spaces, using environmentally friendly materials and installing energy efficient systems.
• Inclusivity and accessibility are emphasized with modern facilities incorporating adaptive equipment and exceeding the minimum for compliance with ADA.

Market Constraints:

• The biggest constraint, in the opinion of B*K, is that Millcreek Township has within its borders and just beyond, alternative service providers of all varieties. This means that residents are either traveling outside of Township boundaries to use a YMCA or other municipal facility, or they are currently using a private provider.
• The Township is already operating the Asbury Barn. Residents may have concerns as to if/why the Township would discontinue operating this facility and move to a different facility.
• The location is a very unique opportunity because it is a pre-existing structure that could be converted into a community center. However, the Township must acknowledge the previous use of this space as a rental facility and commitments to long-term users.
• The population of the Township are sufficient to support an indoor community recreation center, but the median household income may impact the ability of the facility to generate enough revenue to recover all operating expenses.
• A challenge with most indoor community recreation centers with demographics like that of the Township is to design a facility that can be multi-generational and multi-use.

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