he Ottawa South Community Association's (OSCA) community space committee is looking at different perspectives on community, as we explore what space is needed for the health and well being of residents of Old Ottawa South. We have looked at some other community centres in Ottawa to benchmark best practices (no escaping the high-tech influence of the past few years). The Dovercourt Community Centre, located in the McKellar Park area west of us, is certainly a model of a well-used and popular centre at the heart of a city centre community. Many Old Ottawa South residents have enjoyed swimming or other activities at Dovercourt.
Although the Dovercourt building contains a fitness studio, an assembly hall, a preschool/multipurpose room, a pottery studio and other facilities, the recreation association also holds program activities in four neighbourhood schools and a nearby church as well. John Rapp, the executive director of the Dovercourt Recreation Association, emphasizes that they are always looking for "any available space" to offer the widest range of programs possible for their community.
Dovercourt is the "groundbreaker" among city recreation centres for moving a portable beside the centre as a space for pilates, yoga and other programs. The Dovercourt Community Centre itself was renovated in 1987, in partnership with the Kiwanis Club. The Kiwanis participated on the design team, and a room in the centre is named in honour of one of its members. Kiwanis remains an ongoing partner with the recreation association and actively supports Dovercourt each year with contributions towards improvements to the centre.
Dovercourt offers programs co-operatively with other organizations, such as churches in its community. Dovercourt shares its facility with a preschool program.
Rapp emphasizes the power of the political will of the community. The Dovercourt community set goals and worked with partners and the city to get what the community wanted. Their success in getting more than the city originally planned for the site should inspire us. His advice to Old Ottawa South is to "dream big."
What are your thoughts about community space? What is your vision for the community centre that you'd like to walk to in five years time? Is this the time for us to be getting serious about renovation to our facilities? We need your opinions and ideas. Contact the Community Space Committee by e-mailing Dianne Borg at dnborg@rogers.com.