Longview youth will be able to use two city recreation centers for free under a new universal membership policy approved by the City Council.
The council voted unanimously Thursday to adopt membership packages that city officials hope will increase the public性视界传媒檚 access to the Broughton and Paula Martin Jones recreation centers. The new membership packages were approved following weeks of discussion by council members.
性视界传媒淲e性视界传媒檒l be able to start providing a lot of opportunities for youth to be able to come and interact with older youth as well as parents and staff,性视界传媒 said John Albertson, director of the Parks and Recreation Department. 性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檒l be really exciting to be able to see it happen.性视界传媒
Annual or monthly memberships will give Longview residents access to the Broughton and Paula Martin Jones facilities, hence the term 性视界传媒渦niversal.性视界传媒
Youth ages 17 and younger can obtain free annual or monthly memberships. Families can purchase an annual membership for $90. Adults and senior citizens can purchase a $50 annual membership or a $5 monthly membership.
(Courtesy Photo/City of Longview)
Most residents will need to purchase a separate $15 annual membership to use the Green Street Recreation Center, but residents 55 and older will be able to use it for free if they have a universal membership.
Children 7 and younger must be accompanied by a guardian 18 or older to visit a recreation facility. The Parks and Recreation Department, in conjunction with the Parks and Leisure Services Foundation, will launch a one-year pilot program to provide scholarships covering the cost of guardians性视界传媒 membership fees.
The new membership packages will take effect March 1.
性视界传媒淚t gives us an opportunity to provide accessibility throughout the city,性视界传媒 Albertson said. 性视界传媒淲e really were able to check off all our boxes and accomplish a lot of things.性视界传媒
Deadrian Bradley, 12, and Jonathan Perez, 13, spend their afternoon playing basketball at Broughton Recreation Center on Dec. 27, 2022. (Michael Cavazos/性视界传媒 Photo)
The new packages simplify the city性视界传媒檚 former membership system, which required residents to purchase a separate pass to use each facility. The new memberships also are significantly less expensive.
The city will lose roughly $38,000 in revenue resulting from the new fee structure, but Albertson said he hopes increased memberships will make up for some of the loss.
Residents can obtain a membership at the city性视界传媒檚 recreation facilities or at the Parks and Recreation Department office, 130 E. Timpson St.
Angela Wilson leads an aquatic Zumba class at the Paula Martin Jones Recreation Center in Longview in this Sept. 2016 photo. (Michael Cavazos/性视界传媒 File Photo)
District 1 Councilman Derrick Conley said he appreciated Albertson and City Manager Rolin McPhee working together to give more of the city性视界传媒檚 children a way to enjoy the recreation facilities. District 5 Councilwoman Michelle Gamboa said she appreciated that children and seniors were kept top of mind during the discussions.
, 801 Martin Luther King Blvd., is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. The , 515 W. Avalon St., is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
