Bill to require DC rec centers open on Sundays

[Anonymous]

DC Council is considering a bill that would require DC recreation centers to be open on Sunday afternoons. As a parent of an active kid, I think this is a great idea! If you do, too, you can show support by signing up to testify at the December 3 legislative hearing. (Deadline to sign up is December 1.) Maybe some kids will testify, too! And please spread the word!

More information on the hearing:
https://lims.dccouncil.gov/.../B26-0113-Hearing_Notice1.pdf

[Anonymous]

Does the bill include funding to do so?

[Anonymous]

This is long overdue. Especially in the winter. Indoor school gyms too.

[Anonymous]

If there's no funding included and extra staffing authorized then this is the worst kind of performative unserious nonsense bill possible.

Nobody is opposed to rec centers being open on Sundays. But it costs more money and requires more staffing to implement. What's getting cut to pay for it?

[Anonymous]

The city spends billions on capital projects (currently, $2b for schools). It's foolish not to spend a few bucks to maximize utilization of those facilities. If budget is really so constrained they ought to be able to shuffle staffing from other days so that at least some of the centers are open for 5 hours on Sunday afternoons, especially in the colder months, as someone else pointed out in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Yessss please do this, with funding!! In particular the indoor pools having short Saturday hours and mostly closed Sunday is nonsensical. A few pools are open Sunday but not the ones that get the most traffic.

[Anonymous]

Then cut the budget and increase DPR staffing levels. Most of us would agree that better hours for rec centers is a good thing. However, an unfunded mandate from the same drunken sailors that throw wasteful sums of money on their pet projects is the worst of all worlds and will lead to unintended consequences. It's emblematic of what a joke our lazy council and political class is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then cut the budget and increase DPR staffing levels. Most of us would agree that better hours for rec centers is a good thing. However, an unfunded mandate from the same drunken sailors that throw wasteful sums of money on their pet projects is the worst of all worlds and will lead to unintended consequences. It's emblematic of what a joke our lazy council and political class is.

It’s weird that the rec centers are open on days/times when utilization is light (like Monday mornings) but closed when many people are free for recreation (Sundays).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then cut the budget and increase DPR staffing levels. Most of us would agree that better hours for rec centers is a good thing. However, an unfunded mandate from the same drunken sailors that throw wasteful sums of money on their pet projects is the worst of all worlds and will lead to unintended consequences. It's emblematic of what a joke our lazy council and political class is.

It’s weird that the rec centers are open on days/times when utilization is light (like Monday mornings) but closed when many people are free for recreation (Sundays).

Agree. Esp with the shortage of decent recreational spaces. Why keep the doors closed? Don’t we want families and young people to have safe and healthy alternatives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then cut the budget and increase DPR staffing levels. Most of us would agree that better hours for rec centers is a good thing. However, an unfunded mandate from the same drunken sailors that throw wasteful sums of money on their pet projects is the worst of all worlds and will lead to unintended consequences. It's emblematic of what a joke our lazy council and political class is.

It’s weird that the rec centers are open on days/times when utilization is light (like Monday mornings) but closed when many people are free for recreation (Sundays).

Yes it is. It's also a good idea. But that doesn't change what I said. Fund it and cut the Council's grift. An unfunded mandate is the worst scenario.

[Anonymous]

Close them on weekdays and have them open on weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Close them on weekdays and have them open on weekends.

This. They should do what they do with the outdoor pools in the summer -- they are always open Sat/Sun and then pools take different days off during the week (it's for cleaning but also helps with staffing). So you could have some closed Monday, some Tuesday, etc. That the rec centers would always be open on the weekend when demand is highest, but also people who need them during the week would always be able to find one that is open even if their usual rec center is closed that day.

Would require no additional funds for staffing and would be a better utilization of expensive facilities.

[Anonymous]

This is a tough city to raise a kid. Especially in the winter. It’s ridiculous that we often have to schlep into VA/MD for active indoor activities in the winter. Please do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then cut the budget and increase DPR staffing levels. Most of us would agree that better hours for rec centers is a good thing. However, an unfunded mandate from the same drunken sailors that throw wasteful sums of money on their pet projects is the worst of all worlds and will lead to unintended consequences. It's emblematic of what a joke our lazy council and political class is.

It’s weird that the rec centers are open on days/times when utilization is light (like Monday mornings) but closed when many people are free for recreation (Sundays).

Government employees don't work on weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then cut the budget and increase DPR staffing levels. Most of us would agree that better hours for rec centers is a good thing. However, an unfunded mandate from the same drunken sailors that throw wasteful sums of money on their pet projects is the worst of all worlds and will lead to unintended consequences. It's emblematic of what a joke our lazy council and political class is.

It’s weird that the rec centers are open on days/times when utilization is light (like Monday mornings) but closed when many people are free for recreation (Sundays).

Government employees don't work on weekends.

They staff the outdoor pools on weekends during the Summer.

I agree with what others are saying. First, you really only need the Rec centers open on Sundays from say November - end of March. Second, you can close them for a day during the week.

All that said...my kid plays Sunday basketball games at Jellef, sometimes Sunday evening. So, clearly not all rec centers are closed on Sundays.