City Seeks New Recreation Center

The Agoura Hills Recreation Center has outgrown its space at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Thousand Oaks Boulevard, and city staff are trying to find a new location before the lease runs out in December 2014.

The city began setting aside money for a new Agoura Hills Recreation Center at its annual budget workshop in May 2007. Since then, the reserve of earmarked funds has reached a total of $3.5 million. The money is there. A space—preferably 10,000-15,000 square feet—is not.

"It's just identifying a location," says Amy Brink, director of Community Services.  Brink oversees Parks and Recreation, whose offices are also housed in the snug center. "We have a limited amount of city-owned property, and that creates a challenge," she said. 

One possibility -- building a community center at a city park -- has already met with public opposition.  CWA Inc. consultant Steve Finney had presented about 30 community center options at a January 2009 City Council meeting, including the use of one of six city parks.

When Agoura Hills residents learned about the possibility of construction at Forest Cove Park, they began to organize that spring, with many sending e-mails to the City Council. Nearly 100 Friends of Agoura Parks members protested at a City Council meeting.

"The community's input was extremely persuasive and helpful.  We're there to represent the community," said Councilman Dan Kuperberg.  "Frankly, I thought that the park site was a real good alternative, but I understand the opposition's argument."

In June 2009, a workshop during a City Council meeting spawned suggestions of a public pool and a center just for senior citizens, but for now there is no specific timeline or periodic review process to examine plans, Brink said. She and her team are continuing to look, and when some feasible possibilities are found, the city will turn to residents for feedback in either a public forum, such as a workshop, or a formal survey, she said. 

Although money for construction will come from the funds the city has been setting aside,  staffers expect the increased operating costs for a center that's larger than the current location would be offset by the higher registration fees that could be generated once when more activities are offered simultaneously under one roof. "Recreation really tends to pay for itself," Brink explained.

"When I think about community services, I think about our community here and what it means and how people come together," said Kuperberg. "It's why a lot of people like living here—a community feeling. The recreation center is a big part of that."