Jay Ingram, Moraga's parks and recreation director, is working to develop a vision for sports and recreation facilities in town; a vision built on community consensus. His strategy is multi-pronged. While the Joint Ad Hoc Facilities subcommittee tackles the practical aspects of visioning - listing needs, existing facilities and potential sites - Ingram wants to organize diverse focus groups to imagine the future.
The focus groups will meet in September, led by Ingram and Maura Wolf of the Leadership Program at Saint Mary's College. Ingram plans to reach out to groups such as the Moraga Juniors and the Moraga Movers so that all demographics can be represented, and he also wants to hear from residents who are interested in participating; email jingram@moraga.ca.us.
The subcommittee met June 23 to continue its conversation about sports and recreation infrastructure. The group that includes council members and representatives from the school districts and local sports groups is set to give the town council and the school board a report in the fall of 2014.
The meeting began with Ingram asking each member to reminisce about some of his or her best childhood memories involving recreation. They had plenty to share. Memories of trips to the hockey rink in Massachusetts were conjured up; long summer days spent in open recreation centers where informal activities happened; the local YMCA; bike rides and open space. "What strikes me is that all our prior meetings have been about organized, structured activities," said subcommittee member Shari Simon, "but our best childhood memories are about free form recreational activities. That's something we should pay attention to as we create a vision of what we want to offer our community."
Ingram also reported that he is working with the Moraga School District, Campolindo High School and Saint Mary's College to cross-reference the availability of sports fields and facilities; he was asked to continue working with these same organizations to sign joint-use agreements for the recreation facilities.
The next meeting of the Joint Ad Hoc Facilities subcommittee is scheduled for 6 p.m. on July 23 in the Mosaic Room at the Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 Donald Drive.
The focus groups will meet in September, led by Ingram and Maura Wolf of the Leadership Program at Saint Mary's College. Ingram plans to reach out to groups such as the Moraga Juniors and the Moraga Movers so that all demographics can be represented, and he also wants to hear from residents who are interested in participating; email jingram@moraga.ca.us.
The subcommittee met June 23 to continue its conversation about sports and recreation infrastructure. The group that includes council members and representatives from the school districts and local sports groups is set to give the town council and the school board a report in the fall of 2014.
The meeting began with Ingram asking each member to reminisce about some of his or her best childhood memories involving recreation. They had plenty to share. Memories of trips to the hockey rink in Massachusetts were conjured up; long summer days spent in open recreation centers where informal activities happened; the local YMCA; bike rides and open space. "What strikes me is that all our prior meetings have been about organized, structured activities," said subcommittee member Shari Simon, "but our best childhood memories are about free form recreational activities. That's something we should pay attention to as we create a vision of what we want to offer our community."
Ingram also reported that he is working with the Moraga School District, Campolindo High School and Saint Mary's College to cross-reference the availability of sports fields and facilities; he was asked to continue working with these same organizations to sign joint-use agreements for the recreation facilities.
The next meeting of the Joint Ad Hoc Facilities subcommittee is scheduled for 6 p.m. on July 23 in the Mosaic Room at the Hacienda de las Flores, 2100 Donald Drive.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA