The process from when a community first begins to think about a new recreation center and when the doors officially open can take three, four, or more years. Has the pre-planning been thorough, do you understand your market, is the community and decision maker group on board? Has the design process matched the initial desires of the community and will the expected building performance do the same? These questions must be asked because for many parks and recreation professionals, the opening of a Community Recreation Center is a quantum leap in the services they are providing. This workshop uses case studies and benchmarking data to provide a look at the strategies and processes to set up your center for success.