Robinson Park Rec Center Renovation Committee, Now Short Just $1 Million, Considers Private Donations Campaign

The Pasadena Robinson Park Recreation Center Renovation Steering Committee is considering launching a private donation campaign to help raise the final million dollars needed to complete fund requirements for Phase II of the Robinson Park Master Plan.

Phase II requires an estimated $11.4 million and involves the rehabilitation of the existing 7,400 square foot gymnasium and construction of a new state-of-the-art 13,000 square foot recreation center.

In a project update for City Manager Michael J. Beck, Julie A. Gutierrez, Interim Director of Pasadena’s Public Works Department, said the steering committee is proposing the private fundraising campaign as one of the opportunities to close the estimated $1 million funding gap.

Gutierrez said the Pasadena Parks and Recreation Foundation has agreed to serve as the fiscal receiver for the fundraising effort.

The Robinson Park Renovation Project currently has $8,874,493 in ready funding consisting of $1 million from the General Fund, $1.3 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), $562,300 from the Department of Housing and Community Development Housing-related Parks Program grant, and a $6 million Section 108 federal Department of Housing and Urban Development loan.

Aside from whatever amount the private fundraising could raise, the Renovation Committee is expecting $1 million from the Capital Improvement Plan Program for Fiscal Year 2016-2020 and has requested for Los Angeles County Proposition A funds for which a decision could be made by fall of 2015.

Additional CDBG funds can be applied for and re-programmed for September 2015, Gutierrez said in the project update.

The project is currently in its Design Development/Entitlement Phase. Construction is estimated to be completed by spring of 2018, but will not begin until funding requirements are complete.

Completion of the Robinson Park Master Plan is expected to significantly expand recreational opportunities for the Pasadena community in general but more specifically for Northwest Pasadena.