James River Community Center

Two Groups: Adult & Youth

Group 1 - Adults

Facilitators: Tressell Carter and Tracy Evans

1.  Have you ever used a James City County park or facility (such as the community centers), or enrolled in a program?

100%

2. When it comes to parks, programs and facilities – what does Parks & Recreation do well?

Programs:

• Variety
• Inclusive
• Before/after school
• Youth recreation
• Team sports
• Staff well-trained
• Beyond the Bell
• Partnerships

Parks & Facilities:

• 1^st rate JCWCC
• Walking trails
• Kidsburg
• Chickahominy Riverfront, affordable pool
• Little Creek Reservoir
• Skate Park
• Waller Mill partnership ( Dog Park )
• Williamsburg Indoor Sports Complex

3. In reference to those parks, programs and facilities – in what areas do we need to improve? List provided, and then prioritized in Question #4.

4. Think about the next five years and beyond: what do you feel will be your – or your family’s - greatest needs in programs, parks and facilities?

(Meeting participants were asked to rank the priorities. Number of votes appears first.) 

Programs

(22)- summer swim teams, make affordable at public pools and with neighborhood partnerships

(20)- maximize partnership with school

(17) expand programs for girls

(17) more fitness components to sports/other programs/academics

(14) Senior wellness/Aging In Place (accommodate seniors as they age, keeping them active, healthy and independent)

(12) daycare for infants and preschoolers

(8) child obesity programs

(6) Better/more training for staff

(1) movements/motion classes

(0) improvements to Family Night

Facilities

(26)- 50 meter pool (state of the art facility) for state titles for swimming. Need earlier access to facility such as 4:30 a.m.

(22) Maximize partnership with school

(15) Softball fields, work with Williamsburg

(14) Park areas in Grove with water access

(13) Greenway space in Grove area trails, follow through with the original Greenway Plan

(12) Indoor pool in Grove area

(11)- Follow through with Plans to complete softball fields at Warhill

(9) More facilities for swim competitions as a revenue generator

(8) Upkeep ball fields

(8) Healthy food choices in vending machines

(3) Upkeep on existing fields (ball fields)

(3) Indoor batting coaching facilities

(3) Affordable Golf

(0) Customer Service at JCWCC

(0) Staff take pride/ownership in their workplace

(0) Handicap accessibility to lanes in pool

(0) Separate hot & cold water valves in shower

4b. Do you feel we’ve adequately addressed your future needs?  If not, what have we missed?

No comments

5. How far are you willing to drive to use a particular facility?

20 minutes

Group 2 – Youth

Facilitators: Arlana Fauntleroy, Pauline Mulligan, Vicki Sprigg , Nancy Ellis and Tara Fedis.

1. Have you ever used a James City County park or facility… such as going to the pool at the community center, visiting Kidsburg or playing on one of our ball fields?

100%

2. Are there enough activities for youth in James City County , especially on the weekends?

Need 50 meter pool for @ 600 competitive swimmers. JCC could host and boost economy for groups like USA Virginia (Eastern Sectional, Speedo Championship Junior Sectional)

3. If you answered “not enough” to question 2… and you could wish for any type time of entertainment you wanted, what would it be? (Youth were asked to rank their priorities. Number of votes appears first.) 

Programs

(11)- Summer Sampler/hands on activities such as Astronomy, Dance, Archaeology, Criminal justice, Forensics, Economics, Marine biology

(Financial- Nominal fee; subjects not offered in college; career exploration)

(10)- Resource Guide for teens to do Community Service such as Habitat for Humanity

(9)- Therapeutic Recreation programs

(7)- Habitat for Humanity (no age limits)

(7)- Mentor Program

(6)- Outdoor Activities such as Kayaking, Camping, Rock climbing and

Ropes course

(4)- More Field trips

(0)-Workout/health equipment for ages 10-14; elliptical machines

(0)- Life Skills

(0)- Name Programs (not to emphasize it’s a teen facility)

(0)- Martial arts (central)

(0)- JCC Volunteer/ Community Service website (college prep)

Parks & Facilities:

(19) Recycle older buildings

            Environmentally friendly

(19) New 50 meter pool:

            (4) Dividable into two 25-meter pools

            (3) depth change (diving)

(15)- Teen Center (needs a better name, not inviting)

            (10) Hot tub

            (9) computer lab/study hall

            (9)- Big screen TVs

            (4)- Music Recording- Instruments available

            (3)- Art Center

            (3) pool tables

            (3) snack bar

            (0)- Hip Hop Club

            (0) basketball

            (0)  Teen Lounge with community resources, play videos, pool table and

            Furniture

(0) “Mini Warhill” with outside programs such as soccer, baseball, leagues

(0) JRCC another pool table/pool/TV/playstation

4. How do you currently receive information about programs, events, or activities happening in Parks and Recreation

• Teachers/hand-outs
• Posters
• Flyers in MS halls, lunchrooms and classrooms

5. What’s the best way to get information out to you (how do you find out about other upcoming events)?

• Would like a monthly calendar of Activities distributed at schools
• Visible bulletin boards
• Word of mouth

Additional Comments

Environment – youth wanted to see more consideration given to vacated facilities being renovated rather than demolished or left vacant; fewer trees should be cut down to accommodate buildings; don’t want James City County to look like Richmond Road in the City; want regulations – policies and procedures – put into place to ensure the environment is protected.