What’s the future of recreation and child care in the Oskaloosa and Mahaska community?

Children and childcare providers and YMCA members take off on the Healthiest State Walk

The future of the Mahaska County YMCA and its services will be the center of upcoming focus groups. (file photo)

The Mahaska Community Development Group (MCDG) and YMCA will host a public input meeting at 9 am, 11:30 am and 6 pm, Monday, March 30, in Penn Central Mall in the suite across from Label Shopper.

The two-hour session will be aimed at defining what key indoor recreation and child care facilities and programs need to be maintained, revamped and/or developed to serve the community.

Additional focus groups will be held:
Wednesday, April 1, 7 am, Eddyville City Hall
Wednesday, April 1, 7 pm, New Sharon Fire Station
Thursday April 2, 8 am, 11:30 am, and 7 pm, Penn Central Mall – focus child care only
Friday, April 3, 7 am and 11:30 am, Penn Central Mall – focus recreation only

In addition to the public meetings, interested individuals may complete an online survey to provide feedback about existing services, and ideas for improved and expanded recreation and child care facilities and programs. A link to the survey will be released next week.

MCDG/YMCA study partnership formed
“Indoor recreation and early childhood education & daycare are critical services necessary to support businesses and their employees,” said Jay Christensen, Mahaska Health Partnership CEO. “As the YMCA began to assess future plans for their facilities and programming, MCDG made a decision to support that effort with a study that includes a community survey and master planning process,” said Christensen.

MCDG and YMCA contracted with Des Moines architectural firm Walker/Coen/Lorentzen to assist with the project. Matt Coen, a native of Oskaloosa, is leading the study process.

The study includes three phases: 1) a recreation and early childhood needs assessment to gather public input; 2) a capital needs assessment of the existing YMCA facility; and 3) creation of a master plan using data from phases 1 & 2. The plan will define facility and programming needs for indoor recreation and early childhood education & daycare for the YMCA and other community providers.

The way forward
“We know the study will help us define a path toward providing quality learning opportunities for the youth of the community in a way that’s convenient and affordable,” said Mark Willett, CLOW General Manager.

“Indoor recreation is another piece of this,” said Willett. “We need to define what’s important to the community to support leisure, wellness and rehabilitation activities, for individuals of all ages. Businesses and individuals alike rely on these amenities.”

“We hope people will get out and attend the input sessions and complete the online survey,” Willett said. “Those tools will help guide our planning and future investment in programs and facilities.”

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