THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 1, 1995 TAG: 9510310336
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLENE CASON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
A rose is a rose and a recreation center is a recreation center. Unless it's a new ``community'' center, catering to the unique needs of military families.
The Oceana Family Housing Community Center, located at 1200 S. Birdneck Road in the Wadsworth military housing area, opened in early August and had its grand opening ceremonies Oct. 17. The center serves nearly 4,000 residents living in Oceana's four base housing complexes.
It is not a recreation center, but rather, a place where several programs come together to answer the educational and entertainment needs of a community so alike, yet so different, from its civilian neighbors.
``Military family housing community centers have been historically funded by the family housing department,'' said Dick Larue, Oceana's housing director and ``landlord'' of the new facility. ``And housing isn't in the creature comfort business for programming.''
But a Navy survey showed that Virginia Beach military housing residents wanted a little creature comfort included in the center where, traditionally, their children went to play ping pong and watch TV after school.
They needed a place where not only their recreational needs, but their emotional, social and educational needs could be met, said Kathy Struble, deputy director of Oceana's family service center.
``They wanted a multipurpose building that would address a range of issues impacting military families,'' Struble said. ``Here, we can have several programs going on simultaneously. We have a staff and volunteers who understand deployment and return issues, exceptional family members, networking. They know not only the civilian, but the internal military resources available.''
What the Navy did to make the Oceana community center so different was bring four departments - housing, family services, security and Morale, Welfare and Recreation - together in a partnership which, according to Larue, is being tried for the first time. The idea was that the departments would all work together under one roof to serve the special needs of their customers.
The Armed Services YMCA was also brought in to help with recreational and social program development.
All the departments maintain offices at the air station, but this concept unites those organizations to better meet the needs of military housing residents.
The $768,000 building not only has offices, where residents can get information and help with their problems, but also a large multipurpose room, activity and TV rooms, a fully equipped kitchen and a patio picnic area.
Residents of Oceana's Wadsworth, Wherry, mobile home park and officer housing units can bring their children by the 8,000-square-foot center after school. They can take a parenting class in the evening, learn about stress management, talk about job search strategies or have a graduation party.
And everything is free.
``The Navy used to provide no more than just a place to put your head,'' Larue said. ``But now, with the reduction in force, we're trying to provide the remaining people with bigger and better services so that the future is very bright for those who choose to stay.
``Those who live in Virginia Beach's Navy housing choose it because of the camaraderie, and their perceived understanding of issues, such as deployment. This center just carries on that idea,'' he said.
The center, which took six months to complete, is an Atlantic Division of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command project. For hours of operation and more information on what's available at the Oceana Family Housing Community Center, call 433-2055. ILLUSTRATION: GARY C. KNAPP
The community center, located at 1200 S. Birdneck Road in the
Wadsworth military housing area, opened in early August. It serves
nearly 4,000 residents living in Oceana's four base housing
complexes.
by CNB