Fort Bragg Expansion Proposal Sparks Broader Questions About Recreation Services
Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park district searches for properties to acquire without an approved strategic plan
Editor’s note: The story has been updated to provide contextual information about the district’s financial status and typos were fixed, including a misspelling of Craig Comen’s name. (May 13, 2026, 8:35 a.m.)
The Mendocino County Recreation and Park District is a small agency that rarely attracts attention outside of periodic financial crises. But on Tuesday morning, when the district’s capital building ad hoc committee met to discuss acquiring the former Rite Aid building in Fort Bragg for a second recreation center, every seat was full.
Kimberly Ramey was one of the first members of the public to speak. She said her concern was not just how the district’s actions could impact C.V. Starr, the existing recreation center that is struggling to stay afloat, but also other small health- and exercise-oriented businesses. “We all have to be very mindful when we’re getting government monies, how we’re going to allocate those funds because those are private businesses,” she said. “They don’t have that luxury of getting those tax dollars as we do.”
Michelle Blackwell, another resident, urged the district to invest in the south county, which board members have repeatedly described as underserved. “I’d rather have my money go to Point Arena and Gualala than be wasted on a deteriorated building here in Fort Bragg that is not necessary,” she said.
After hearing the comments, the two members of the ad hoc committee, Angela Dominguez and Craig Comen, accepted the recommendation of General Manager Kylie Felicich not to move forward with the acquisition. Felicich said monthly operating expenses for the building would range from $15,000 to $30,000 — more than half of the district’s current monthly expenses of approximately $56,000.
Felicich she added that the district is continuing to explore capital investments. “Expansion of services for the youth is high on our priority list,” Felicich said. The district currently spends 64% of its budgeted expenses on the district office and admin expenses and 31% on recreation and sports programs for youth and adults.
Felicich said the district had also considered, but ultimately rejected, a building on West Fir Street in Fort Bragg. She added that a deal to purchase a 13-acre property in Gualala had fallen through. But she said the district is currently in talks to acquire property adjacent to the Caspar Transfer Station from a corporate buyer who needs to mitigate a complaint from the California Coastal Commission.
In response to questions about how the acquisition would address the need for services in the southern part of the 77-mile-long district, Felicich said the south coast has a different demographic and that investing in open space better meets community needs than offering classes. “Outside of Fort Bragg, what seems to really work is a place people can come any time that they want, and maybe there’s a use fee, maybe there’s not depending on what ends up happening,” she said. “This is just a general idea of open space.”
The property in Caspar, if acquired, would be about 75 minutes from Gualala, one of the main population centers in the south county. The district would not have to pay a purchase price but would be responsible for ongoing maintenance and upkeep.
Felicich confirmed that the search for capital investments is not currently guided by a strategic plan or needs assessment. Felicich said she plans to present a strategic plan to the board at its June meeting, followed by community outreach.
The district has also been asking LAFCO, the Local Agency Formation Commission, to conduct a municipal service review to help guide strategic decisions about resource allocation and service delivery across the district. The district is currently profitable, with revenues from property taxes and program fees outpacing program expenses. See graphic below for a high-level breakout and the annual budget report for additional details.
Some notes: The district changed its accounting method for fiscal year 2024-25 so that it no longer discloses wages separately, in fiscal year 2023-24, wages accounted for 38% of revenues. This percent is included in the graphic below.
According to the budget, skate night and adult sports are profitable, earning a combined income of $29,000.
Dominguez described the process of looking for buildings with Felicich as “really fun,” and said, “I trust her. I think staff trust her.” She added, “I think it’s going to be really cool to explore further expansion.”
Comen’s comment during the meeting was that he cared deeply about the youth and “wanted to see every everyone thrive and do the best they can.”
Both Dominguez and Comen’s elected terms expire this year.
Read our previous reporting on the Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District:
Can Mendocino County Afford Two Recreation Centers in Fort Bragg? (May 11, 2026)