Colorado Springs Olympic City USA

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Residents are invited to join a digital debrief on Thursday, June 2 to learn about the community’s recommendations from the Westside Community Center’s public engagement process. The debrief is from 5-6 p.m. and will be run by a professional and independent facilitator, Kimberley Sherwood. The recommendations, which emerged from the community design workshop on May 21, plus data from the online survey and focused conversations, will be shared with City officials who will use the information to help determine next steps for the center.

Anyone can participate in the digital debrief. It will also be recorded and posted on the project webpage. To receive the link to participate, register at ColoradoSprings.gov/WestsideCommunityCenter. A briefing document for the online meeting is also available on the project page.

Background information

The City’s operational contract with the Center for Strategic Ministry (CSM) expired on May 31, 2022. CSM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has operated the community center since the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department first sought an external operator in 2010 as a response to budgetary constraints. In March 2022, the City cancelled its request for proposal (RFP) following CSM’s withdrawal from the process, and the procurement evaluation resulting in no additional qualified proposers. The City began the process to find a new operator in November 2020.

Starting today, June 1, the Westside Community Center will run on a revised schedule, operating Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The center will be funded by the remaining balance from the City’s operational contract. This allows current food services to continue, including the food pantry, Meals on Wheels and senior meals, plus other programming.

Meeting information

  • What               Digital debrief for the Westside Community Center’s public engagement process
  • When              Thursday, June 2 from 5-6 p.m.
  • Where             Zoom; receive the link to participate upon registering at ColoradoSprings.gov/WestsideCommunityCenter