Gov901

Justice Bolden

Person

Director of Memphis Parks

Speaking turns

• Memphis City Council Committee Meetings: October 20, 2026 23:43

  yes, good morning. Uh Justice Balden, Memphis Parks director, 2599 Avery. Also, I'll allow my colleagues to introduce themselves. Gerald Spencer, deputy director, general service, 125 North Main. Okay. So westwood pool um as many of you are aware this pool closed pre- pandemic. Um had been closed for roughly about 6 years or so. Had an aluminum main drain system and whatnot. parks went in, performed a complete renovation of this pool and we actually opened during the month of August. Now, why it was unique, we were essentially uh complete with the summer months, but we were able to open and coincide with the the opening of uh Westwood High School, who also had uh middle school students transition over from Chickasaw. So ultimately we provided uh programming Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 6:00 p.m. um during the month of August up until Labor Day as well as Saturday from 1 to6 and and guess what we doubled the membership at uh Charles Powell. So u we started with roughly about 350 members. We had 700 members by the end of the month. So u it offered us a unique opportunity to work with the community. Now, when it comes to this particular allocation, appropriation and transfer, essentially there was some unforeseen circumstances, mainly the backflow pre as well as uh some deck uh drain line repairs and whatnot. And so, those have been completed and we're just closing out the project.

• Memphis City Council Committee Meetings: October 20, 2026 27:44

  Yes. So, we've uh made tremendous pro progress uh during the past few days. Uh first I'll say it's been a great opportunity to work alongside the roller derby community. U certainly uh we understand when a in in sports sometimes when an official makes a call 50% of the people may not agree with the call but ultimately our goal is to make sure we continue to deliver quality services. And so, uh, what you have here is, uh, locations that we've, uh, determined that Roller Derby will be able to both practice as well as host bouts. So, uh, first off, if you're looking at the screen here, you'll see Davis Community Center. So, the tier one rental rate for Davis Community Center is typically $150 an hour. So, what we've done, uh, historically, roller derby practice is about 210 hours per year. Uh the annual rate without a subsidy would be $31,500. Um a few weeks ago, Chair Warren, you asked us to essentially keep the price the same for roller derby. So what we're showing you is what a subsidized rate would look like at $42.86 or about $9,000 a year. That is a 71% subsidy that the Memphis Parks would be providing to roller derby. Um now I I'll also bring you down to the Pipkin building. So, what we're looking at is the weekday uh nonprofit rental rate. Um, so normally the cost would be for 210 hours at $281.25 would be approximately 59,000 a year. U roller derby was receiving a rate at approximately right around 42.86 and so thus there was an 84% subsidy there. Now, um, couple of things that that are important to note for Davis Community Center. This is a location that not only we've uh secured for practices for roller derby but also for skate schools. So what that means is uh for the first time in at least under my tenure uh we will offer not only uh practices to roller derby in a Memphis community center um in in the university district mess bun but also skate school for 18 and up. So our goal through this process is to really activate the community center in a way in which we are bringing more skaters into the community. We are introducing more skaters to what roller derby does and ultimately we hope more members of the community skate. Memphis is a skating community. We we've done it at Crystal Palace, Raleigh skating rink and historically we're skating on wood floors, gymnasium floors simp simply and so we will do that at Davis Community Center. Um now I want to uh also move to the next page just to talk a little bit about bouts. Okay. So, um, I've listed just a couple of locations. Orange Mound could be a third location where bouts could be hosted on a Saturday. Keep in mind the Memphis Parks is, uh, typically has hours on Saturday of 9:00 a.m. and until 1:00 p.m. Typically, historically, uh, roller derby has bouts that will start in the afternoon around 4:00 and then if they have a second bout, it will be about six o'clock. And so we have an example where uh if they were to use Davis or Gaston Community Center, which we've provided a a permit for, the annual rate without a subsidy would be $6,000. And so we don't Yeah. Without we don't need to provide a subsidy. The cost is actually uh much lower uh than what they were paying at the Pipkin building. And so what you see here, four four bouts that that's four different dates where you would have a bout. Um the roughly the cost would be right around $6,000. We've incur we've included the cost of what security would would include. And so that's essentially about one for for every 50 or so. U and keep in mind the the crowd may change from from bout to bout, but roughly we're estimating about $7,560. So essentially what we've shown you is an opportunity to actually uh place some funds back into uh roller derby to be able to you use for other things. Um, but certainly we're also looking to the fact that now on a Saturday, whether it's the afternoon or the evening, you could visit a Memphis Parks community center and you could see roller derby for the first time. And so we're excited about that opportunity.

• Memphis City Council Committee Meetings: October 20, 2026 31:46

  Yeah. So ultimately that'll be under the purview of roller derby to determine. Um we've asked that essentially we host some scrimmages and really lay out what it feels like. So there'll be an opportunity for them to invite uh you know members of the community. Certainly we'll be able to you know assist with that outreach, but it gives us an opportunity to really see what it looks like to have a bout in a community center. So we're looking forward to that. Um also um and and essentially what we've done is said hey uh during the peak months when Memphis sports and event sports and event center is at its highest Davis Gaston or even Orange Mound Community Center would be available for your use. So we're talking March, April, May and June if necessary. Uh and now when we look at the Memphis Sports and Event Center, the annual rate without a subsidy for four bouts would be right around $20,000. Certainly u there's an opportunity for security. It all depends upon whether roller derby is hosting without any events on site. If there's an event on site on courts uh uh 12 through 16, the

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• Memphis City Council Committee Meetings: October 20, 2026 23:43

  yes, good morning. Uh Justice Balden, Memphis Parks director, 2599 Avery. Also, I'll allow my colleagues to introduce themselves. Gerald Spencer, deputy director, general service, 125 North Main.

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