WINNEMUCCA - City officials are working with other local entities to form a committee with the purpose of possibly developing a teen, youth and family recreation center. The consensus came following a Feb. 7 proposal by Brian Nelson, who said his vast experience in coordinating youth activities and clubs would be beneficial in creating a center in Winnemucca.
Nelson, who also serves as the prevention and education coordinator for the Sixth Judicial District, proposed retrofitting the existing rec center - adjacent to the indoor swimming pool - into a more useable facility that could host existing clubs, groups and meetings.
"Usage would be open to organized, existing clubs with volunteer leaders," he said. "Clubs would be scheduled with their individual dates and times; this gives existing youth groups a place to meet. Some places (that) groups meet now don't even have a (bathroom)."
He proposed turning the current weight room area into a room adorned with pool tables, foosball, carpet ball, shuffle board and maybe even arcade games. The other half of the building would be used for meetings, quiet time and other activities. The clubs and groups would be supervised and "staffed" by volunteers, he said.
"We're not changing (the building) dramatically, just promoting it," he said, adding that since the police department now has their own weight room at their new location, the weight room isn't used much anymore. "I don't think that many people will be displaced because of this," he said.
Nelson envisions hosting clubs similar to the mission of Boys and Girls Clubs that encourage character building, education, health and fitness, recreation and the arts. He would also like to add in the element of family, similar to the YMCA.
"I think it can be done. You have existing agencies or organizations that are utilized in it, and I feel like this would be an opportunity for a community to come together on this."
Nelson suggested allowing local groups and clubs to have a buy-in at the center by doing some of the light retrofitting and improvements themselves, such as painting, moving equipment and furniture and other tasks that don't require a professional. As far as furnishing the building, he recommended creating a "wish list" of wanted and needed items and disseminating it to local businesses and groups that may be interested in contributing.
Most importantly, he said, the center would create a controlled environment for youth and teens to gather.
"It's not just going to be a hangout center," he said.
Councilmen appeared receptive to the idea and noted that the volunteer staff would be key in its success.
"I like the idea that it will be run under the auspices of existing groups," councilman Joyce Sheen said. "To try to supervise youth with no organization in place won't work in my opinion. This has more of a possibility of working because you already have the organization in place."
Mayor Di An Putnam agreed that volunteer staffing would be imperative because the city does not have the staff or funds to provide a paid supervisor for the facility.
After a consensus from the council (no formal vote was taken), Putnam suggested she work with other city administrators and people within the community to form a committee and develop a business plan and direction.
"There is no building like that, dedicated to such things in our community," she said. "It would not interfere with any of the meetings that are going on now; it would just work around and with them."
"I know it's a big job and I'd like the opportunity to volunteer and get it going," Nelson said.
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