Issue link: https://pdop.uberflip.com/i/1211643
In Oak Park, many residents have difficulty accessing or using our current programming, because our limited facili es inhibit the delivery of programs and accommoda ons that connect with their needs. A though ully planned Community Recrea on Center will expand our mul genera onal audience of users and make a meaningful difference in their lives. AFTER-SCHOOL NEEDS According to Li le, Wimer, and Weiss from the Harvard Family Research Project, a er-school programs make a significant impact on children's lives. Their decade-long research and evalua on studies confirm that posi ve a er-school ac vi es provide academic support, improve social skills, create a sense of belonging, build confidence, provide safety and supervision during at-risk hours, and encourage youth to spend their energies in healthy, produc ve ways. Studies indicate that juvenile criminal rates can decrease by up to 25 percent when a community has a recrea on center for youth. Oak Park currently has limited safe, supervised spaces for youth to congregate and engage, which research shows is associated with experimenta on of drugs and alcohol. The Community Recrea on Center can help address these challenges by providing spaces and programs that engage youth in posi ve peer networks under the supervision of caring, mentoring adults who volunteer or work as Park District staff. FAMILY FITNESS The Community Recrea on Center can help en re families improve their health and fitness. Our residents have diverse individual needs, and facili es such as an indoor walking track and a full-service fitness center can serve a broad range of abili es and experience. AFTER-RETIREMENT NEEDS On the other side of the age spectrum, the over-60 popula on con nues to grow in Oak Park. These ac ve residents seek day me recrea onal opportuni es, such as an indoor walking track and gymnasium space for fitness ac vi es and the increasingly popular sport of "pickleball." Re rees o en find themselves struggling with social isola on and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle. The senior popula on requires and deserves opportuni es to engage their minds, form new social connec ons, and keep physically ac ve in healthy, age-appropriate ac vi es. A PLACE FOR EVERYONE