The Need
"Every town needs places for people – away from phones and social media – to meet face to face, to talk to each other or just have fun together."
Matthew Hudes, Mayor of Los Gatos
When we asked people around town, "do we need a new community center", the overwhelming response was "YES...and this is why".
Some of the many unmet needs we heard about:
Our Research In Town Uncovered Many Other Unmet Needs
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As part of our research we conducted a Los Gatos town survey and a separate teen survey. We also held two community workshops and a teen focus group.
The research uncovered many other unmet needs. Here are some examples:
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No place for teens to play outdoor sports such as basketball
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Town has limited indoor and outdoor performing spaces
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No small rooms for club and organization committees to meet
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No good places for social service provides to meet with clients
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No available kitchen for cooking classes
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Lack of casual seating areas for informal meetings
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No indoor places for teens (and others) to play games like ping-pong
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To see all the research results visit our home page and download the Los Gatos Community Needs Assessment Report. ​ ​
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In the end people in Los Gatos recognize we need a new community center. From the town survey:
Town Survey​
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Q: Do you think that Los Gatos needs a new, multi-generational community center?
National Research Shows That Community Centers Are Essential
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A community center is more than just a place. Research shows it is essential to combatting loneliness and isolation, and bringing a town together. And today the need is great than ever:
Research from a wide range of sources demonstrate the benefits of community centers.
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Here are a few examples:
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From the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration
The Meaning of Relationship Building in the Context of the Community Center and its Implications
Summer 2017, Volume 35, Number 2
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“This study demonstrated a valuable role of community centers beyond opportunities for physical activity. Through opportunities for bonding, bridging, and linking social capital that the community center afforded through their programs and services, users had access to emotional support, as well as information and resources that was not available to them in other domains of their life.”
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From The Journal of Leisure Research
Exploring factors that contribute to relationship building in a community center
2019, VOL. 50, NO. 1
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"Community centers are an important source of social interaction, and in many communities, they are one of the few accessible sources for community members. Researchers have suggested a decline in social capital and neighborhood social ties (Putnam, 1995; Semenza & March, 2009), thus making the study of social relationships in this context of relevance and importance."
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"Participants in the study expressed the importance of social support and trust in the
formation of their relationships. For some individuals, there was a perception that any
time they needed assistance or information, they could trust that someone at the center
could provide the information or resources to meet their need."
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From County Health Rankings and Roadmaps
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This round-up of various research concludes community centers strengthen social connections, reduce isolation, and improve the health and well-being among those who participate. click here to view research.​​​​