Park board hears small membership decline at Recreation Center despite recent marketing

Board Member Lori Wood moved to approve the Sept. 5 agenda, and Board Member Gregory Webb seconded; the board approved the agenda and later approved the Aug. 8 minutes.

Parks & Recreation Director J.C. Kennedy presented the August Recreation Center revenue and membership report. The minutes record membership tracking at 1,110 in July 2024 and 1,103 in August 2024. The minutes also state, "In July we welcomed 14,253 paid members to the facility." Kennedy reported that Ellis Media began marketing in April with an established goal of increasing memberships by 30 percent; the minutes state that membership counts decreased by 146 over the reported period, described there as a 12 percent decline.

The minutes do not clarify whether the "14,253 paid members" figure refers to individual active memberships, entry visits, or another measure; it presents both the monthly membership totals (1,110 and 1,103) and the larger paid-members figure without further definition. The board record contains no further explanation of causes beyond the note that Ellis Media’s marketing began in April.

No formal motions or directions were recorded tied specifically to the revenue report; the items were presented for board information. The meeting then moved on to park project updates.