community recreation centre essay

The Role of Community Centers and Why We Need Them Now More Than Ever

Empowering youth. Strengthening neighborhoods. Providing life-enriching programs for a beautiful, livable community. Parks and recreation centers are more than amenities. They serve as leaders in community wellbeing.

While pressure from the pandemic wanes, we are experiencing high mental and physical illness associated with long-term health conditions, unhealthy lifestyles, and an aging population. The isolation that came with the pandemic has affected our society in profound ways, and many communities are fractured.

As we struggle to make sense of the changing world, we must use this moment to invest in design’s restorative power as a public good. To create places that offer meaningful connections and support. Places that are not just good-looking but good for us.

This paper explores the critical role community centers play in society and how they can make a lasting, positive impact on the people they serve. Download at right to learn more.

RESEARCH AT HMC

By connecting intelligence and insight with creativity, we are able to advance innovation to better understand the needs of our clients and bring them the future of design.

Thank you.  You can now click the button below to download your report. Download Now

Media Inquiries Bruce Boul (951) 382-0444 [email protected]

Related Articles

Inspire School of Arts & Sciences New Campus Project Moves Forward!

Santa Ana High School Celebrates Modernization Project

Western Placer Unified School District Tops Off New High School Building

Improving communities through sport

• (727) 474.3845
• Request Consultation

11 Benefits of a Community Recreation Center

• Posted by jumpsix2
• on July 15, 2016
• at 10:50 am

Ready to make an impact in your community?

Download the guide, to great recreation in your city, the sports facilities companies knows that these potential community benefits readily come with a recreation center..

Community recreation centers hold the key to a number of benefits that enhance the quality of life in your community. Regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, or socioeconomic status, there are valuable programs at your local rec center for little to no cost. Whether it’s fitness classes, afterschool programs, or job training, there’s a little something for everyone. However, to realize the great value of a community recreation center, a great investment must be made. An investment of time, human, and financial resources. With many pressing needs faced by city leaders throughout the United States, it can be hard to make parks and recreation departments a priority. However, the benefits of doing so are far-reaching.

At the Sports Facilities Companies , we’ve seen the power of a strong recreation center many times over and provide recreation master planning services to arm communities with the necessary resources to achieve immeasurable success.

Below are 11 key benefits of a community recreation center that we believe you can realize with time, proper planning, and efficient execution.

Stay Healthy Longer

Community  recreation centers  offer many programs that benefit both the body and mind. Studies have shown that people who exercise regularly have lower blood pressure, delayed onset of diabetes, lower heart disease rates, and overall increased longevity. Exercise also helps increase white blood cells and aids in strengthening your immune system.

The health benefits of recreation centers extend to children as well. According to the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), children who live close to multiple recreation centers were more physically active and less likely to be obese than children that did not have access to recreation centers.

Reduce Stress

The benefits of sports complexes not only help the body, but they also create a less-stressed mind. Stress greatly affects the community at large, and studies conducted in both the United States and Australia have found that people who participate in recreational activities are more resilient to stress and experience better mental health.

Recreation has a positive impact on happiness as well. A study in the Journal of Happiness Studies examined the results of over 23 studies dating back to 1980. The studies included over 500,000 people and found that there were correlations between happiness and exercise.

Benefits to Families

Couples and families that play together tend to stay together. Family ties are improved by spending leisure time with each other. Recreation centers like the ones in Madison, WI, one of the nation’s best park systems , host family fun nights that provide activities including art projects and a bounce house.

Recreation centers also present opportunities for parents to model good health for their children. Research from the University of Cambridge indicates that for every minute of physical activity a mother engages in, her child is more likely to perform 10 percent more of that activity.

Reduce Crime Rates with Children

A critical benefit of community recreation centers is their impact on juvenile crime. According to a report by the NRPA, adolescences who don’t participate in afterschool activities are 27 percent more likely to be arrested. Drug use is 49 percent more likely among this group.

Recreation Centers Increase Property Value

Recreation centers as part of a park system are a driver of property value increases. According to a report by the University of Washington , homes within a quarter mile of a park are 10 percent more valuable on average. Recreation centers and parks are often viewed as a symbol of community pride and active recreation centers are chock full of activities that enhance the lives of those living around them.

Keep Your Employees Alert and Around

Employers can realize the power of recreation centers through their role in the health and wellness of employees. A great example of this can be found in Dallas , where their parks and recreation department provide programs such as weight training, yoga, and aerobics classes at a fraction of the cost of a standard gym.

Statistics show that engagement in these programs whether on a company or individual level can be an effective strategy for building a strong and productive workforce. A variety of studies have indicated that employees who exercise regularly used almost half as many absences as employees who did not engage in physical activity. Employees who had actively paid for membership for physical recreation are more alert on the job, faster learners, and perform better in their roles.

Cultural Diversity

We often discuss the “recreation” part of community recreation centers, but rarely emphasize the “community” part of the term. Participating in group activities can help increase cohesion among members of a community. Many community recreation centers have programs that highlight diversity and educate community members.

Boost Your Students’ Performance

Recreation center programs can be a critical part of increasing the likelihood of student achievement. A variety of studies indicate this, including ones done by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and The After-School Corporation , among others. After school programs can have positive impacts on classroom behavior, test scores, and reading and math achievement. After school programs have also been shown to enhance experiential learning.

Many sports complexes have included areas for after school childcare to keep kids out of an empty home while the parents are working. This time period, roughly between 3-6 pm, is a peak time for juvenile crime. According to a study by the YMCA of USA, teens who do not participate in after school programs are three times more likely to skip classes, experiment with drugs and alcohol, and be sexually active.

Additionally, recreation and sports facilities offer summer programs that can help further physical and mental growth in kids, which can benefit families tremendously.

Public Safety

Among the great of programs that offered at recreation centers throughout the country, ones that promote safety including CPR and first aid classes are among the most important. Many recreation centers offer swimming lessons for both children and adults at little cost along with classes on water safety. Additionally, recreation centers provide a meeting space for community members to discuss important issues such as crime prevention and disaster preparation.

Sports facilities, associated with larger recreation centers, can hold sports tournaments that can bring people from neighboring states. These visitors can help bring more revenue into a city a few times a year. Over time, sports tourism can drive revenue increases that have a tremendous impact on a community’s economy.

Throughout this article we’ve described a variety of benefits that can be realized with the presence of a recreation center in your community. However, these benefits can only be realized with a commitment from the community.

If you’re ready to tap into the power of community recreation centers, you’re ready to talk the SF Companies team. We have helped elevate over 2,000 communities around the country through the power sports and recreation facilities. To learn how,  contact us  today or call us at (727) 474-3845.

Hoover Met Case Study

Share this post, latest posts.

Tips for Beating the Lifeguard Shortage

Why a Sports Business Plan is Key to Facility Success

How to Convert Spaces into Pickleball Courts: A Comprehensive Guide

Exploring Exciting Aquatic Programs and Events for Your Community

(727) 474-3845

17755 US Hwy 19 N. Suite 300 Clearwater, FL 33764

• Facility Planning
• Facility Development
• Facility Management
• Employment Opportunities
• Privacy Policy

Latest News

City brings on new operator for virginia beach sports center.

• November 18, 2024

Report: Parks bring $12M in economic impact in FY 24

• October 28, 2024

The Sports Facilities Companies Launches Ice Division

Demand increases for paradise coast sports complex, discover how we can help your community.

Get Started Now!

Contact us using one of the methods below and we will get in touch with you ASAP!

Give us a call

727.474.3845, request a call, a guide to great recreation, download our free, sports tourism guide, gated content.

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings
• Browse Titles

NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

Khasnabis C, Heinicke Motsch K, Achu K, et al., editors. Community-Based Rehabilitation: CBR Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010.

Community-Based Rehabilitation: CBR Guidelines.

Recreation, leisure and sports.

• Introduction

Like culture and art, recreation, leisure and sports activities play an important role in communities. Their many benefits include improving the health and well-being of individuals, contributing to the empowerment of individuals, and promoting the development of inclusive communities. Recreation, leisure and sports activities may involve individuals, small groups, teams or whole communities and are relevant to people of all different ages, abilities and levels of skill. The types of recreation, leisure and sports activities people participate in vary greatly depending on local context, and tend to reflect the social systems and cultural values.

Participation in recreation, leisure and sports activities may be one of the few opportunities people with disabilities have to engage in community life beyond their immediate families. The right to participate in these activities is highlighted in the box below . As with culture and art, people with disabilities may choose to participate actively (e.g. as team members of a basketball team), or passively (e.g. as spectators at a football match).

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 30, paragraph 5: Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport ( 2 )

With a view to enabling persons with disabilities to participate on an ongoing basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to a) encourage and promote the participation, to the fullest extent possible, of persons with disabilities in mainstream sporting activities at all levels; b) have an opportunity to organize, develop and participate in disability-specific sporting and recreational activities; c) have access to sporting, recreational and tourism venues; d) ensure that children with disabilities have equal access with other children to participation in play, recreation and leisure and sporting activities; e) have access to services from those involved in the organization of recreational, tourism, leisure and sporting activities.

BOX 19 Morocco

Using sport for social inclusion and personal development ( 9 ).

The project Sport as a Tool for Social Inclusion and Personal Development was launched by Handicap International in Morocco in 2007. A survey previously conducted (in 2004) by Handicap International had estimated that more than 1.5 million Moroccans had disabilities, and the purpose of the programme was to increase the opportunities for people with disabilities to be involved in sports and address inequalities in access to rehabilitation, health care and social integration.

The programme focused on three areas:

• Capacity-building and networking of Moroccan institutions – programme staff worked closely with the Royal Moroccan Sports Federation (specialists in mainstream sports but with limited expertise in disability) and around 600 Moroccan disability associations specializing in health and education for people with disabilities, assisting them to develop strategic, national and international partnerships. Support was also offered to small projects and sports clubs for people with disabilities by offering training in management skills, project development, proposal writing and fundraising.
• Provision of adapted sports equipment – including wheelchairs, appropriate clothing, and adapted equipment, e.g. balls which make noise for the blind.
• Organization of inclusive sports events – a number of sporting events were held. These included an event to mark the International Day for Disabled Persons, and the Race for All, which attracted approximately 2000 runners both with and without disabilities. A high profile football tournament for players with disabilities was also held; it was sponsored by the King of Morocco and the final game was broadcast on national television to an audience of approximately 20 000 people.

The programme achieved a number of impacts:

• 1500 people with disabilities were reached through sporting clubs and regular sporting events;
• people with disabilities gained access to quality services, including appropriate technology and equipment and trained personnel who can advise them;
• people with disabilities gained access to opportunities to meet and interact with others of all abilities.

People with disabilities participate both actively and as spectators in recreational, leisure and sporting activities on an equal basis with others.

• The role of CBR

The role of CBR programmes is to promote increased participation of people with disabilities in recreation, leisure and sports activities; and provide support to mainstream organizations and programmes to enable them to strengthen their capacity by offering appropriate and accessible recreation, leisure and sports activities.

• Desirable outcomes
• People with disabilities participate in recreation, leisure and sports programmes available in the local community.
• Local, national and international authorities and associations include people with disabilities in their recreational, leisure and sports programmes.
• Families, teachers and community members recognize and actively promote the right and ability of people with disabilities to take part in recreation, leisure and sports activities.
• People both with and without disabilities are involved together in recreation, leisure and sports activities.
• People with disabilities are able to access recreation, leisure and sports venues.
• Equipment used for recreation, leisure and sports is adapted where needed to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities.
• Recreational, leisure and sports programmes and activities are developed specifically for people with disabilities where required.
• Key concepts

Definitions

In this element:

Recreation refers to all those activities that people choose to do to refresh their bodies and minds and make their leisure time more interesting and enjoyable. Examples of recreation activities are walking, swimming, meditation, reading, playing games and dancing.

Leisure refers to the free time that people can spend away from their everyday responsibilities (e.g. work and domestic tasks) to rest, relax and enjoy life. It is during leisure time that people participate in recreation and sporting activities.

Sport refers to any type of organized physical activity, e.g. soccer, rugby, football, basketball and athletics.

Recreation, leisure and sports in the community

In many low-income countries where people work every day just to survive, the concept of leisure time is not always well understood and nor is it a priority. Indeed, many activities that are considered recreational in high-income countries are considered a means of livelihood in low-income countries, e.g. fishing and handicrafts.

In most communities the type of recreational and sporting activities people participate in are determined by age, gender, local context (e.g. rural vs. urban) and socioeconomic status. For example, children in poor communities are likely to play games using natural materials, such as sticks or stones or using discarded manufactured items like tyres and rope. Leisure time is also likely to be based around cultural activities, such as traditional dance, storytelling, religious festivals and events, and visiting entertainment troupes.

In many poor and rural communities there are no designated places for people to spend their leisure time, such as community centres and sports stadiums, so it is common for people to gather in places of worship, tea shops, houses and open spaces.

Communities in low-income countries often have pressing priorities and limited budgets. As a result the development of formal recreation and sports activities/programmes is usually dependent on donors. It is important that external funding is carefully managed to ensure that the programmes/activities introduced are appropriate to the local context.

The benefits of participation

Participation in recreation and sports activities can have many benefits for both the individual and community.These include:

• health promotion and disease prevention – recreation and sports activities are an enjoyable and effective way to improve health and well-being; they can relieve stress, increase fitness, improve physical and mental health, and prevent the development of chronic diseases, such as heart disease;
• skills development – physical and social skills are some of the many skills that can be developed through participation in recreation and sports activities;
• awareness raising, reduction of stigma and social inclusion – recreation and sports activities are a powerful, low-cost means to foster greater inclusion of people with disabilities; they bring people of all ages and abilities together for enjoyment, and provide people with disabilities the opportunity to demonstrate their strengths and abilities, and promote a positive image of disability;
• international peace and development – sport is a universal language that can be used as a powerful tool to promote peace, tolerance and understanding by bringing people together across boundaries, cultures and religions ( 10 ).
• empowerment – recreation and sports activities can empower people with disabilities by positively influencing their self-confidence and self-esteem.

BOX 20 Eritrea

War veterans become role models.

In Eritrea, war veterans with disabilities received training to work as football team managers and trainers so they could play a key role in implementing children's football activities, involving more than 2000 children, in the capital city of Asmara. This involvement has changed the way the war veterans view themselves, and has positively influenced the way in which children view people with disabilities, while providing positive role models for other people with disabilities. Building on this success, the sports club is now providing football training to deaf children as a first step in the inclusion of children with disabilities in its sports activities.

Recreation and sport are complementary with other opportunities

While the many benefits of recreation and sporting activities have been highlighted, it is important to remember that they should not be used as a substitute for limited access to other opportunities, such as education or livelihood.

BOX 21 Afghanistan

Bicycle training.

The Afghan Amputee Bicyclists for Rehabilitation and Recreation (AABRAR) programme in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is a bicycle training programme for people with amputations, to improve their functional mobility and independence and enable them to travel to and from work and save on transportation costs.

Enabling access to recreation, leisure and sport

Reasonable accommodation may be necessary for some people with disabilities to participate in recreation and sporting activities. With a little creativity and flexibility, activities and equipment can be adapted at minimal or no cost to ensure the inclusion and participation of people with disabilities.

Adapting sporting activities

Adapting the rules or point scoring systems of games can allow people of different abilities and ages to play together at no cost. Using local materials to make cheap adaptations of equipment, e.g. using a dried gourd with grains to make a ball that makes a sound, or pairing players to play together, can increase the participation of all community members.

• Suggested activities

Identify local recreation, leisure and sports opportunities

A first step is to identify what recreation, leisure and sporting opportunities already exist in and around the community. CBR programmes should work closely with community groups, e.g. youth and women's groups, children's clubs, and people with disabilities, to identify these.

Facilitate the participation of people with disabilities

Activities are successful when they are: requested by individuals and communities, culturally appropriate, enjoyable and fulfilling for participants, and not too costly to develop and sustain. To facilitate the participation of people with disabilities in recreation and sporting activities, it is suggested that CBR programmes:

• provide information to people with disabilities about the recreation and sporting opportunities available in their local communities;
• link people with disabilities to mainstream recreation and sporting clubs/associations;
• ensure children with disabilities have the same opportunities as other children to participate in recreation and sports activities at school;
• explore options for personal assistance to enable people with disabilities to participate, whether actively or passively;
• facilitate positive media coverage of disability recreation and sports to encourage more people with disabilities to become involved.

Use recreation and sport to raise awareness about inclusion

Major events, such as the International Day of Disabled Persons, can provide opportunities for raising awareness, from national to local level, about the need for inclusive recreation and sporting activities. These events often attract positive media attention, which can raise awareness across a wide audience.

BOX 23 Pakistan

The blind cricket world cup.

Following successful local and national media coverage of the Blind Cricket World Cup in Pakistan, some CBR programmes saw an increase in the number of parents asking about educational and leisure opportunities for their visually impaired children.

Encourage mainstream programmes to become inclusive

Often mainstream recreation and sports programmes have not considered including people with disabilities. CBR programmes can work with these programmes to explore how to make their activities accessible to all. CBR programmes can:

• consult with national and international organizations to ensure that programmes are culturally and geographically specific, and available to people with disabilities of all ages, abilities, and genders living in urban and rural settings;
• provide ideas and suggestions on how to safely adapt activities, equipment and venues, emphasizing that many activities can be adapted at minimal or no cost;
• facilitate training for staff of mainstream programmes to develop their skills and confidence to include people with disabilities;
• advocate alongside disabled people's organizations to ensure that recreation and sporting opportunities become available and accessible for people with disabilities.

Publications such as the Fun and inclusive handbook ( 11 ) and Sport, recreation and play ( 12 ) provide further information and examples on how inclusion can be supported in low-income countries.

School sports days

CBR programmes can encourage and support school sports days that offer opportunities for inclusion. These sports days can increase awareness and understanding among school- aged children by offering opportunities for individuals with and without disabilities to play sports together. The events are a positive experience for everyone involved including the children, parents, teachers, volunteers and sports officials. They can positively challenge attitudes and beliefs about disability and increase awareness about the sporting abilities of children with disabilities.

Develop and support disability-specific programmes

Disability-specific programmes provide opportunities for people with disabilities to meet other people with disabilities, and enable them to compete against others who are at a similar skill level. CBR programmes can:

• ensure that people with disabilities are leaders and play a strong role in the decision-making process during programme development to make certain that recreation and sports programmes are suitable for their needs;
• provide appropriate training and resources to support people with disabilities who want to set up their own recreation and sports groups/clubs;
• link local disability recreation and sports groups/clubs to national and international organizations, e.g. the International Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disability, the International Paralympic Committee, Special Olympics International, and the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf.

Box 25 Bangladesh

Connecting through chess.

One of the largest networks of visually impaired people in Bangladesh is a Braille chess club, which has a network of clubs that reaches throughout urban and rural areas. This network provides opportunities not only to compete and develop skills but also to socialize and link with people of similar interests.

All rights reserved. Publications of the World Health Organization can be obtained from WHO Press, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel.: +41 22 791 3264; fax: +41 22 791 4857; e-mail: tni.ohw@sredrokoob ). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should be addressed to WHO Press, at the above address (fax: +41 22 791 4806; e-mail: tni.ohw@snoissimrep ).

• Cite this Page Khasnabis C, Heinicke Motsch K, Achu K, et al., editors. Community-Based Rehabilitation: CBR Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010. Recreation, leisure and sports.

In this Page

Other titles in this collection.

• WHO Guidelines Approved by the Guidelines Review Committee

Recent Activity

• Recreation, leisure and sports - Community-Based Rehabilitation: CBR Guidelines Recreation, leisure and sports - Community-Based Rehabilitation: CBR Guidelines

Your browsing activity is empty.

Activity recording is turned off.

Turn recording back on

Connect with NLM

National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20894

Web Policies FOIA HHS Vulnerability Disclosure

Help Accessibility Careers