We Need Your Input for Osage Rec. Center
THE HISTORY OF OSAGE RECREATION CENTER
Osage Park and Rec. Center Survey
As most of the residents know by now, Osage Rec Center has been closed by the City of Wichita for a cost-cutting proposal.
Osage, 2121 W. 31st St. South, was targeted because of low program participation, according to a city document.
The closing was part of a plan recommended by city staff to restructure the park and recreation department. In August, the City Council told the department to cut $1 million out of its budget.
Under the proposal, management at Boston Recreation Center, 6655 E. Zimmerly, will be outsourced and 12 department positions will be eliminated.
The plan is expected to save $877,354, most of that coming from eliminated positions.
It cost $75,000 annually to operate Osage, excluding salaries of one full-time employee and some part-timers.
The proposal called for Osage to shut down by Dec. 31, but Park and Recreation director Doug Kupper said that could be delayed up to 10 weeks into 2011 because of prior program scheduling at the center.
The city plans to seek a community-minded nonprofit or business to operate the building.
"We don't have any preconceived (ideas) of what that may be," Kupper said.
The city will continue to operate the outside amenities, such as the ball diamonds, interactive fountain and tennis court. The new manager would be responsible for utilities and maintaining the building, Kupper said.
Whether the Osage building would be sold or leased would be determined after proposals are received, City Manager Robert Layton said in an e-mail.
In 2009, only 870 people used Osage for city-sponsored programs and about 6,400 used the facility as a rental, according to research conducted by Wichita State University's Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs.
Address: 2121 W. 31st St. South
District: District 4
Acres: 20.00
General Information This 20-acre park was acquired in 1957. Land and Water Conservation Funds provided by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and the National Park Service, have been used to develop this park.
Amenities
Osage, 2121 W. 31st St. South, was targeted because of low program participation, according to a city document.
The closing was part of a plan recommended by city staff to restructure the park and recreation department. In August, the City Council told the department to cut $1 million out of its budget.
Under the proposal, management at Boston Recreation Center, 6655 E. Zimmerly, will be outsourced and 12 department positions will be eliminated.
The plan is expected to save $877,354, most of that coming from eliminated positions.
It cost $75,000 annually to operate Osage, excluding salaries of one full-time employee and some part-timers.
The proposal called for Osage to shut down by Dec. 31, but Park and Recreation director Doug Kupper said that could be delayed up to 10 weeks into 2011 because of prior program scheduling at the center.
The city plans to seek a community-minded nonprofit or business to operate the building.
"We don't have any preconceived (ideas) of what that may be," Kupper said.
The city will continue to operate the outside amenities, such as the ball diamonds, interactive fountain and tennis court. The new manager would be responsible for utilities and maintaining the building, Kupper said.
Whether the Osage building would be sold or leased would be determined after proposals are received, City Manager Robert Layton said in an e-mail.
In 2009, only 870 people used Osage for city-sponsored programs and about 6,400 used the facility as a rental, according to research conducted by Wichita State University's Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs.
Address: 2121 W. 31st St. South
District: District 4
Acres: 20.00
General Information This 20-acre park was acquired in 1957. Land and Water Conservation Funds provided by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and the National Park Service, have been used to develop this park.
Amenities
- Basketball/multi-use court
- Children's playground
- Interactive water fountain
- Parking lot
- Picnic tables
- Recreation center
- Restroom facility
- Softball diamonds
- Tennis courts
- None
