Parks and Rec Commission Discusses Plans for Renovating Youth Center

The Gilroy Parks and Recreation Commission discussed plans to improve the popular Youth Center at San Ysidro Park at its meeting on Tuesday.

The improvements for the Youth Center are expected to cost more than $800,000 and will include repaving the basketball courts, installing stadium seating for the basketball and handball courts and creating a concrete path for northern access to the park.  

The original budget was set at $570,000, but officials said they have extended the project through grants and other funding. 

There are plans for a multimillion dollar Youth Center building in the future, but when this project will be completed is unknown, according to members of the commission.

“It could take two, five or 15 years,” said Maria De Leon, recreation manager at the center.

The commission said it considered the current location an “interim” facility that will satisfy the needs of the community until a new one is built.

The current building has outdoor bathrooms, and one of the improvements suggested is to put the bathrooms inside the building. Having bathrooms outside has posed a safety issue, it was suggested, because of incidents of illegal activity taking place in them.  

There is also an issue with the building not being compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Although the building is old enough not to require some of the accommodations, the commission said it wants to bring the building up to standards.  

The commission also plans a fundraiser that would involve donated recyclables to build up the scholarship fund, which helps low-income families take part in the classes offered by the commission.

The plan to raise money is still in the works.

At the beginning of each year, the Parks and Recreation Committee also choose new leaders. Allison Hodgdon was elected chairwoman, and Anna Bielecki is the new vice chairwoman. 

The committee also welcomed two new members, Paul Kloecker and Dennis Bolger.