As I have visited the "Cheer" site I noticed many people are asking for a recreation center. This is purely to gather information for myself and for anyone ( more ambitious then me ) who might work on such a project. What do people think should or could be in, at or around a recreation center? I am asking this because I don't have much of a feel for this myself and I am wondering what other people are envisioning when they make this request. I think everyone might have different ideas and it could help in the future to have a bit of common ground for groups to work from.

Here is my idea:

Very quick Richard. What are the courts in photo 4, look like tennis without nets up and is photo 5 just playground equipment or is part of the water features or both? Seeing photo 5 makes me think of a water feature in a park in Belgrade or the new one at the fairgrounds.

Photo 4 is a multi-purpose area that can be tennis, volleyball or other activities when the nets are down. Photo 5 is a leisure pool with some" water toys" in it for kids.

And this place is where?

At the very south end of Haynes avenue.

It doesn't really have to be that fancy. It just needs to suit the needs of your community. The Butte YMCA is pretty decent yet not a $hrine to the architect god$, unlike Whitefi$h'$ Wave.
The big mistake I see at most pools, including our Summit, is lack of deck space around the pool and spectator seating. Which causes a lot of misery when you try to put on a swim meet.
Yeah, I know this is all just a dream. But it's okay to dream. Fun2U has a nice start on this. I know the money we're going to win in the Reader's Digest contest won't build a pool. But it will double the amount raised so far to that end, wouldn't it?

I saw someone asking for soccer fields, an indoor hockey rink, and some other thing that already existed. Maybe it's time to inform the locals of the ammenities MC already offers.

Richard, how often do you and your family use this recreation center?

Pic credit of this random website I found that may interest some of you -> http://r67northern.blogspot.com/

Buck, this is very interesting. Thank you.

To answer the original question:

Rebuild the Wild Horse Pavilion.

Richard, how often do you and your family use this recreation center?

My kids use it several times a week. I personally have never been in the place, as I just don't have time for recreation/vacation/gym rat type activities.

@ Mike Wallick, great picture. That is only a few miles from where I grew up.

A rec center with indoor pool and sports facilities would be great, but I would also say it would be great to see a building that would include rooms that could be used for Scout Meetings, Art Classes, Dance Lessons, Music Lessons, Exercise Classes,etc. I can't even begin to remember all of the service groups that made use of the rec. center in my home town. I know I spent a lot of time there when I was a kid. These could be available to people of all ages.

This sounds like a job for Phineas and Ferb!

I do not think a fancy rec-center is required. The Centra is great but handicap accessibility is not good, and more rooms for classes are needed. Maybe an addition to the Centra there is room and both the community and college would benefit. Fun2u is working on the indoor pool problem and the hockey team has the building at the fairgrounds. I believe what people want more than anything is a one stop shopping type center like the Wal-Mart theory. Everything under one roof but for a small town in Montana this is a very expensive adventure therefore not very probable. Just for the record I do use the Centra and I do appreciate having access to this facility.

When I think of a recreation Center, being almost as old as the dirt we stand on, I think of a room with pinball machines(video games not invented yet) and another one with a floor big enough for a group of teens to not dance on as music is played. Growing up out of town, I tend to think of recreation as outdoor activities. So as to what might be added to Fun2U I was seeing maybe frisbee golf or a small paintball course outside and around the building. The building there was several different sized rooms that could be used for a variety of classes and uses. Gym floors are expensive and Miles City already has 7 around town, maybe access could be worked out so recreation dues could be given to the school district to pay for wear and tear on these avoiding the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed for a new one plus much more for a building around it. Not duplicating assets could help keep costs down and projects more obtainable.

That is exactly why Miles City needs to bring in the YMCA. One thing the YMCA system does is help a community put all its recreational assets together. It gets these facilities to work as a team for the good of the community.
What the YMCA does not do is come into town and build anything. It is just an group that shares its experience in professionally organizing, managing, and operating recreational facilities.
Not to take away from the efforts of Fun2U, they could always do the same thing, all they need is an indoor pool to complete the picture, right?

Last time a group from Miles City approached the YMCA, they were very enthusiastic and as soon as Miles City has $1,000,000 in the bank, they would be happy to help. This is the way the Y works. The city raises the funds and builds the building and the Y helps with administration. They are NOT a source of funds but REQUIRE funds to operate.

The Y here went bankrupt in 1933, taking with it an indoor pool and other facilities. Up until then, it was very popular but it was a different time.

Jeff, have you missed the million times it's been mentioned on here that the YMCA has been contacted?