Community+Centers

=**Community Centers**=

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Area of Interest
Community Centers - They can be considered as the public space of the community, a place where people can gather, interact, have fun, socialize and do many things either by themselves or together with a group of people. After reading about the public revolt against the mayor on his decision of monday closings of community centers over toronto, it made me wonder why is it that the public loved about the community centers and like, was there something more about them? What exactly makes up a community center? How are they used? Do community centers actually reflect its community?

Background
Communtiy Centers are public spaces in which the community can gather for social, cultural and recreational purposes. In this research, my main focus was on the Wellesley Community Center located in St. James Town, an area known by some as "a world in a block," by its massive population and diverse mix of people of different backgrounds. Here, in this densely populated area, one can see how a community center really can reflect the various people that are in its community. The Wellesley C.C. is a free and priority center that responds to the various needs of the people.

__For More Information:__ Wellesley Community Center St. James Town

Critical Position
Community centers should reflect and provide for the people in the community

Research Statement
Upon examining various community centers, I want to promote and build more community-reflective centers in order to create a safer and more connected community.

Data Collection and Analysis
__Method of field research:__ observations at the community center and the surrounding area, photos, and was lucky enough to run into Costanza, the manager of Wellesley C.C.. who then led me into having an interview with Bhim Rana, recreation coordinator of the community center (very helpful, providing me massive amounts of information, especially in an insider's/ staff's perspective). Other modes of research included books and websites.

__Sources:__ Bhim Rana (interview) [|Flickr account]

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__Observations and Findings (contains merged information from Bhim's interview, internet sources, and my own observations):__ (please see section on Wellesey C.C. provided in the Background section)

Time of observance: approx. 2pm

Concerns:

The community center was built on a 10 year old plan and therefore, there are many improvements that could have been made.

Nowsday, there is a concern on how the community center will run in the future, especially since there are many new constructions of high-rise aparetments/condos around St. James Town. In such a way, it is as if they are surrounding the community center and the existing area in a box format. It will be combining 2 communities into one. There is also a concern on the program access to the communities. Due to the fact that it is free and is on a first come first serve basis, mroe fortunate people outside the community with wealth like faster internet connection is able to sign up faster to the various programs and therefore, the issue of whether the programs are actually being used and provided for its community is raised


 * Possible Improvements:**
 * less conflict between the old and new committee in terms of working (two unions currently), and therefore can do more work faster and more efficient (currently, one group is not allowed to do another group's work and therefore things like additional signage is still not up)
 * hanging wayfinding sign is horrible, especially for seniors due to the small words and directions - should have more big signs
 * community bullentin board is too small
 * easier if there was a minimap of the the community center with the location of every room
 * more space
 * not enough seating inside (two benches)
 * safety in terms of a glass window that allows the office to look inside the gym
 * bleachers and seating within the gym
 * a pool, a skating rink

Opportunities
>
 * more effective, known and accessible community centers
 * improved and clear wayfinding that appeals to all the various people in a community (the children, the elderly, the disabled, etc)
 * adapting various parts seen in this "priority center" into other community centers

Concept Map
Final Cmap version: [|Community-Centers-Concept-Map.gif]

Visual Essay
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Related Links
Reference.com - definition of community centers http://www.reference.com/search?q=community%20center

City of Toronto: Parks and Recreation: Community Centers - contains a listing of the various community centers in Toronto and the services that each one provides http://www.toronto.ca/parks/recreation_facilities/comcen/comcen_index.htm

Toronto Star. "Vital Signs: Checking Toronto's Health." Oct. 1, 2007. - The Toronto Community Foundation has produced it's annual report on Toronto's economic, environmental and social health, Vital Signs. Read our special section on the report. http://www.thestar.com/SpecialSections/VitalSigns

Toronto Neighbourhood Profiles - Map that contains information of the various demographics of each neighbourhood. http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/profiles_map_and_index.htm

Toronto Neighbourhoods. 29 April 2003. - Provides information about the various neighbourhoods/ districts in Toronto. http://www.torcon3.on.ca/outside/neighborhoods.html


 * Wellesley Community Center:**

Listing of all the community centers in the southern Toronto area with facility descriptions: [| TorEY_FacilityList.pdf]

Recreational Management. "From Dream to Reality." - Article about the 2007 Facility Highlight: Wellesley Community Center http://www.recmanagement.com/200705aw2n.php

Toronto. "City of Toronto officially opens new Wellesley Community Centre and Toronto Public Library branch." April 6, 2005. - News article on the opening of the community center. http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/11476e3d3711f56e85256616006b891f/0448f5ac34e6a98485256fdb0052a57f?OpenDocument


 * St. James Town:**

Toronto Neighbourhood Profiles for St. James Town - The demographics of St. James Town. http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/cns_profiles/cns74.htm

Toronto Neighbourhoods. 1999. - Includes various information about St. James Town, including history, homes, recreation, shopping, schools and transportation. http://www.torontoneighbourhoods.net/regions/toronto_downtown/28.html

Price Tags. "The Density Game." July 23, 2006. - Blog that contains information about St. James Town and the density of it. http://pricetags.wordpress.com/2006/07/23/the-density-game/

Realosophy. "St. James Town." - Real estate site that contains various information about St. James Town area, including grades from the surrounding schools, listings/ addresses of shopping, fitness, and various places in area, demographics and home values, etc. http://www.realosophy.com/NeighbourhoodProfile.aspx?city=Toronto&district=St.James+Town

Wikipedia. "St. James Town." Oct. 4, 2007 - Contains history, demographics, and information of St. James Town. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._James_Town

Wikipedia. "List of selected cities by populairty density." Oct. 8, 2007 - Listing of selected cities by their popularity density and includes density of various districts in those cities as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_selected_cities_by_population_density

Hiller, Harry H.. __//Urban Canada: Sociological Perspectives//__. Canada: Oxford University Press, 2005. Amit-Talai, Vered and Henri Lustiger-Thaler. //__Urban Lives: Fragmentation and Resistance__//. Canada: McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1994. DesRivieres, Dennis, Susan Aliphat, Colin Bain, Graham Jarvis and Angus Scully. //__Communities: Urban Canada__//. Canada: Prentice-Hall Ginn Canada, Scarbourough, Ontario, 1996.

A Walk through St James Town - Toronto Projects http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y6308ix2PIc - shows the surrounding area of the district Describe St. Jame's Town http://youtube.com/watch?v=qE5nwzeD-Z4 - describing the district by the people that live in there piano st james town community http://youtube.com/watch?v=9udd6pMG-Fo - allows a peek at the different people that live in the community
 * Videos**