The Dennis Advantage: The town can set its own user fees. For comparison, Harwich does not charge residents for use of their facility, and Barnstable charges only $40 per year.
Why not the Y?
While the Y is a respected organization, a town-owned Dennis Community Center offers unique advantages and local control that a regional Y facility cannot provide.
Local Control & Priority Scheduling
A Y built in Dennis would serve a broad region, including Yarmouth, Brewster, Harwich, and Chatham.
The Challenge: In a regional facility, Dennis would not have control over scheduling.
The Solution: A dedicated Town Community Center ensures that Dennis recreation programs and resident activities always come first.
Memberships vs. User Fees
A common misconception is that a Y on town land would be "free" for residents. In reality, the Y would require the town to pay a stipend to offset those costs. Without a membership, residents would not have access to the gym or other facilities.
The Best of Both Worlds
The Y is known for having swimming pools, but will they have large gyms to support the community’s needs?. NO.
We don't have to choose one or the other. Towns like Barnstable and Falmouth successfully host both a town community center and a Y.
Our Vision: Dennis should build its own town-controlled community center with a gym to anchor our local recreation.
Collaboration: We can then negotiate with the Y to bring a swimming pool facility to town.