By Brian Kates

Meadows Park Community Center is a home away from home, a “third place” and has been first place in the lives of generations and thousands upon thousands of people since opening its doors in 1982. That this $775k/year facility (0.17% of $438M 2025 General Fund budget) is scheduled for permanent closure on October 10 after 44 continuous years of effective and dedicated service makes it a suspicious target (i.e., political vs. financial) in addressing the reported $31 million projected financial shortfall within the City of Colorado Springs.

It is also an injustice to the underserved Stratton Meadows neighborhood in which the center is based and its loyal customers, who essentially would have a lifeline that addresses critical childcare, food access, social engagement and quality of life needs unnecessarily taken from them.

Reasons cited for the rapid closure of MPCC are that, following “extensive evaluation” the center is deemed no longer financially viable due to declining programming and nearby alternatives available. As acting center director from December 8, 1994 to August 28, 2025, I can state confidently and unequivocally that this justification is disingenuous at best and intentionally misleading in effort to support not a financial goal but rather a political agenda where department priorities do not include the management of these vital gathering places, of which there are already significantly fewer in operation (4) than that of most all cities of comparable size (e.g., Denver-30, Atlanta-30). And with zero cultural centers, no community centers located north of Uintah Street and the last and only stick-built center constructed 35 years ago (Hillside, 1990) compared to the 164 parks that exist within 0.5 miles of every residence, it is clear where priorities lie and don’t lie.

Regarding research, this plan did not involve any community center staff or customer input and at no time was any concern over the operation expressed to myself or any other center staff until the September 12 press release stated so, in coordination with the Mayor’s Office publicly reveal of its list of proposed cuts within the 2026 budget and when all active employees were notified of their termination. How extensive research on the center’s viability could have been conducted effectively in this manner is dubious to put it mildly. While there has been a decline in 2025 program participation at the center, it should be known that this is not due to a lack of community need or interest or because services are being offered by other providers. Rather, it is the result of department “leadership” eliminating and/or not permitting core and highly requested services to be provided by MPCC, including universal Pre-K, an elementary after school program and summer and school break camps that will result in well over 10,000 fewer center participants by year’s end.

This action was taken despite there being dedicated funding in place to offer these programs and credentialed staff on site to provide them. It is clear that a narrative was created internally regarding declining center viability and then manifested through the intentional elimination of core programming. To the claim that suitable alternatives exist nearby, this too, is true to a point but highly misleading. While there are for profit services in the area of childcare, youth camps, food, etc., few, if any, are easily accessible and as comprehensive, available to all and at the price point as MPCC.

Considering that the median household income of a Stratton Meadows neighborhood resident ($46,018 per homes.com) is the lowest amongst the four neighborhoods in which existing centers are based and significantly less than the median income of Colorado Springs households ($74,046 per 2023 US Census Bureau), it would seem that MPCC is especially viable and plays an integral role towards helping to ensure the effectiveness of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department in providing needed services to its customers.

One can expect to pay upwards of eight to ten times the cost for comparable services offered by MPCC (e.g., $500/month vs $60/month for after-school childcare). As for the nearby alternatives, it is unlikely that a single, working Mom would permit their elementary school-aged child to travel down S. Nevada Avenue, past Dorchester Park and along the Las Vegas Blvd train tracks for three miles en route to the next nearest location, versus being met by staff at the school and a chaperoned one block to MPCC. If you know, you know!

With an estimated $150k+ projected to be underspent in this year’s MPCC budget due to the contraction of services, closure does not need to occur during this calendar year, and certainly not within a month of the declaration. And with numerous alternative funding options that exist which would allow MPCC to remain operational (e.g., 20% reduction across centers to recoup $775K operational budget) it would clearly be a hasty and ill-advised decision to carry forward this ill conceived, pound foolish plan that disproportionately impacts a population that statistically already experiences a higher level of poverty, food insecurity and lower life expectancy than almost any other neighborhood in the city. Public safety, so highly regarded in our community, would be severely compromised, as would physical and mental health of local residents. For all these reasons and many more, Meadows Park Community Center should remain open for a 45th year and for decades beyond.

Brian Kates is the former manager of the Meadows Park Community Center and had a 30-plus year tenure with the City of Colorado Springs.