Families plead to reinstate REC Inc. programs for disabled adults

Ahead of Monday's Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, the Town received a wave of letters and emails after word spread that REC Inc. programs for adults with developmental disabilities had been postponed or cancelled. The affected activities include the long-running Third Friday Dance and Fourth Friday Party Events, plus basketball and game nights that commenters say have run at the Community Center for more than three decades.

“These 6 boys came and saw me on Monday this week to let me know they showed up for the September dance and that clients were there too, but that everyone was just standing around outside because the lights were off and the doors were locked at the community center. No one was notified that the event was cancelled and they still haven't received any information regarding what is happening.”— Sally Jaeger, Marin Catholic High School Campus Ministry

Several writers said the cancellation caught participants off guard. One parent reported that her son's friends showed up for what they thought was a normal dance night only to find the building dark. Others described the sudden loss as devastating for adults who rely on the events for social connection they can't easily find elsewhere.

Nancy Dow Moody, president and CEO of Lifehouse, urged the Town to reinstate the programs and to lean on outgoing staff member Erin Duggan's institutional knowledge as the recreation department transitions the programs to new hands. The Commission's Monday agenda does not list a formal action item on REC Inc., so it's unclear whether commissioners will respond directly, but the volume of public comment puts pressure on staff to explain what happened and what comes next.

Town Park emerges as top pick for fitness equipment

The Commission will review results of a community survey on adding outdoor fitness equipment, with 79.1% of 187 respondents saying they support or strongly support the idea. Town Park was the most preferred location, and respondents said shade structures and connections to walking paths would matter most, while vandalism and maintenance topped their list of concerns.

Staff is asking the Commission to decide whether to recommend the equipment as a potential project for the 2027 Work Plan, or to send the idea back with additional direction. Recreation Director Tim Barry's report notes the survey opened August 17 and was still collecting responses when the staff report was written, so the final tally may shift slightly before Monday's discussion.

No funding source or cost estimate appears in the materials, so even a favorable recommendation would leave the big financial questions for a later Work Plan discussion.