HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 11-18 Maplewood dives deeper into MCC-YMCA partnership MAPLEWOOD REVIEW2/19/2016 Maplewood dives deeper into MCC -YMCA partnership I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
Maplewood dives deeper
into MCC -YMCA partnership
Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 11/18/2015 - 12:OOam
(Linda Baumeister/Review)
Community building, operating efficiency drive discussion
Roughly four months into the new Maplewood Community Center -YMCA partnership, city staff are pleased to report it's helping
keep both children and the community center afloat.
At the Oct. 26 City Council workshop, parks and recreation director DuWayne Konewko said swim lesson enrollment numbers have
already started to increase, additional operational changes at the Maplewood Community Center are in the works, and the two
entities are collaborating on ways to better engage diverse youth in wellness activities.
"One of the initiatives the council has directed staff to do is reach out to the growing diversity in Maplewood. We think this
partnership will bear fruit in that regard," Konewko said at the meeting. "Bottom line, [this partnership] is the most effective way to
continue to expand recreational opportunities and be mindful of the tax burden on Maplewood residents and businesses."
Money in aquatics
When the MCC opened in 1994, it fit a nationwide trend of cities looking to provide residents with a place for people to gather,
swim, exercise, take classes or go to a theatrical production. City officials say it was never intended to be a money maker. But a
poor economic environment, which led to lower -than -anticipated swim lesson participants and memberships in recent years, has left
the city struggling to break even.
According to city records, in 2014 the total cash deficit by year's end totaled $285,502.
Now that the YMCA is operating the MCC's aquatic center for an annual fee of $157,500, Konewko reports swim lessons are
gaining traction. While it's still early to judge the full impact, he says, "the budget numbers are trending higher." For example,
through late September, 572 participants were enrolled in swimming lessons, up 144 over last year during the same time period.
With a 25 percent revenue-sharing agreement with the YMCA in regards to swim lessons, MCC leadership have set a goal of
making $40,000 to help offset overall operational costs.
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"The goal of the YMCA partnership is to break even," Konewko said. "We have additional work to do here."
Beyond the pool
As part of the partnership focus on improving overall management and marketing of the MCC, Susannah Peterson was
brought on board through the YMCA as the new program executive. Peterson and Shane Hoefer, executive director of the
White Bear Area YMCA, have been connecting with local schools to better address water safety issues.
Drowning remains the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 14, and black children are three times
more likely to drown, Hoefer said at the City Council meeting where the two partners spoke on the behalf of the YMCA.
As promised, they are providing 250 children with a five-day water safety lesson. And that's just the start. At the time, Hoefer
said they were currently in the process of finalizing an agreement with an elementary school which would bring another 180
students into the fold.
Moving forward, he said the YMCA is interested in working with the MCC to dedicate a staff member to building their
engagementwith the schools.
"We're not quite all the way there yet, but we're getting pretty close," he said.
Meeting youth where they are, in the schools and out in the community, has long been a strength of the YMCA. Partners and
council members agree they'd like to see the MCC better -utilized as a resource for building a healthier, more united
community.
"The partnership utilizes the strengths of both partners to achieve a common goal of creating strong families and communities
through youth development efforts, programming and recreational opportunities," Konewko said.
While it may take some time for the MCC to regain its footing, financially, the YMCA has expressed a great deal of enthusiasm
for this partnership in particular.
"In terms of where this fits for the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities, one of the strategic focuses of the Y is about where we can
meet the community beyond our buildings, Hoefer said. "Our CEO, Glen Gunderson, has twice named this very partnership
one of the best manifestations of [that strategic focus]."
In an email to the Review, Gunderson added, "This model is successful because it sustains value and invigorates
programming for children and families.
"The Y hopes other communities look to the success of the Maplewood partnership as they are looking for ways to better
meet the needs of their residents."
Erin Hinrichs can be reached at 651-748-7814 and ehinrich sp_lillienews.com. Follow her at twitter.com/EHinrichsNews.
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