Timeline
The Town of Scarborough has expressed interest and need for a community center for several years. See below for key materials and work that document discussions around a community center.
AD HOC COMMUNITY CENTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (2023)
The Town Council seeks to further explore the opportunity for a community center by drawing on the human capital and expertise in the community to study, evaluate, and analyze relevant opportunities in full. The Town of Scarborough established an Ad Hoc Community Center Committee, which began meeting in September 2023. The Town Council tentatively expects to submit a referendum question to the voters for a community center in November 2024. Learn more on the Ad Hoc Community Center Committee page.
FY2024 Budget: Community Recreation Center Land Purchase Funding (2023-24)
The FY2024 includes a $500,000 strategic capital funding request for land for a future community center. The designated funding would support the work of the Community Center Ad-Hoc Committee in their charge to develop a Community Recreation Center for the Town. Learn more about the FY2024 budget here.
Parks & Facilities Master Plan Findings (2023)
The Town of Scarborough conducted a comprehensive parks and facilities master plan with consultant BerryDunn. The process allows for meaningful future park and recreation facility improvements that yield higher levels of performance and increased enjoyment for all user groups. As part of this process, they conducted a public outreach and needs assessment process to identify and prioritize community needs. Based on information gathered in this study, the community expressed desire for a new Community Center to include aquatics. Learn more about the Parks & Facilities Master Plan here.
FY2023 Budget: Community Center Design (2022-23)
The Town Council has authorized funding to engage in a community Center feasibility study and design process. The FY2023 budget sought funding for a Community Center Design ($100,000). The aim was to procure design and feasibility services from a qualified firm to aid in the development of the proposed Community Center. It would include recommended layouts, based on previous work completed by the Community Center Committee, as well as renderings to aid in community buy-in. This firm would also be expected to create a pre-construction estimate and annual operating budget based on design and project timeline, which should incorporate the public process.
Townwide Community Survey (2021)
Scarborough conducted a community survey for residents in Fall 2021. The survey was statistically valid, conducted by survey consultant ETC Institute. In the survey, residents were asked how supportive they would be for potential capital improvement projects. Sixty-nine percent (69.1%) were very supportive/supportive or a project for the community center. Over half (54.1%) chose the community center project as one of the top two choices as being a high priority for investment. (Findings Report, Page 12, 46-47). Learn more about the 2021 community survey here.
Comprehensive Plan (2021)
The Town Council adopted the 2021 Comprehensive Plan on June 30, 2021. The Plan includes recommendations to plan for a Scarborough Community Center, as outlined under Vision 2: "Future land use patterns will create opportunities for the efficient delivery of municipal services and infrastructure, resulting in fiscal sustainability." (Page 160). Learn more about the Comprehensive Plan here.
Ad Hoc Community Center Advisory Committee (2019)
The Town developed an Ad Hoc Community Center Advisory Committee that met throughout 2019. At the time, the committee was reviewing and analyzing the potential for a public/private partnership on the construction of a community center. Learn more about their work here. This committee concluded its work in 2019 and is different from the 2023 ad hoc committee.
