Needs-assessment survey draws 902 responses; board to convene youth-sports focus group

The Eastern Delaware County Joint Recreation District’s consultant-led needs assessment has drawn a high level of public response: an unidentified presenter reported 902 survey responses and said roughly 80–81% of respondents are from the district’s three member jurisdictions.

“We have 902 at the last count,” the presenter said, adding the consultant is preparing a summary of the findings and the survey remains open for another short outreach push. The presenter said the majority of feedback has been positive but that residents raised questions about financing and potential locations for future facilities.

To gather additional input focused on programming and facility needs, the presenter said the project team will convene a youth-sports stakeholder focus group later this month and asked board members to forward names and contact information for youth-sports representatives. The presenter named local baseball and softball contacts and asked members to help reach hockey groups and other sport organizations.

The board said it expects to receive the consultants’ summary before the next board meeting and noted consultants are scheduled to complete the study by March, with community engagement continuing in January and February. The presenter recommended at least one more community outreach announcement before closing the current survey.

Context and next steps
Board members emphasized the value of in-person outreach and discussed options to host larger public meetings as turnout rises. The consultants will present a summary to the board at an upcoming meeting and will continue community engagement in early 2026 as part of the study’s timeline.