Bluegoat Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 (edited) I was thinking in the hospitality thread about places that we can meet people outside of our homes - what is there in your community? Especially ones that are free or very low cost or you would be in anyway. I like getting ideas for new initiatives A few things around here: Public libraries are pretty good for this. Our central library, especially, has a lot of open seating areas, a play area, and it has two separate cafes though you need to pay to eat. Parks and playgrounds - there are a few possibilities for places that aren't just walking. There are a few public outdoor pools. Quite a few community gardens now. One of the best places is there is an outdoor clay oven in one park, it is run by volunteers and open at designated times. Anyone can bring food to cook in the oven. In the last 5 years I have also seen many more people using parks for parties and cooked meals, mostly middle eastern or African families that are newer to Canada. Outdoor skating oval - anyone can skate here in winter or use it in summer for skates (inline or traditional) bikes, scooters etc. These items can be borrowed at the oval along with helmets and pads. There are free lessons available for ice skating and biking. Beaches: there are a few ocean beaches within 1/2 of the city, but within the city there are about 10 public beaches on lakes. In summer, there are free swimming lessons. ETA: To clarify, I am thinking especially about social venues - ones where you could go and expect to see other people or could meet at easily, or have a group meet-up. Edited January 19, 2017 by Bluegoat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 We have a lot of what you mentioned: great parks, an arboretum, libraries. We also have a small science museum and a couple art galleries that are free. There are a few places for hiking and also a couple nature centers are also free. One indoor place to meet people is the mall which is unlocked around 8 and has a play area. I spent a lot of time there when my kids were very young. I should say that those are available within a 30 minute drive. Within my tiny town we have the library and 2 parks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Mostly the same. Libraries, great parks (city and state) with Nature centers, reservoir with "beach" and loads of access for boats etc. Art museum is free for kids to to age 18. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Here many museums are free on Tuesdays to local residents. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 (edited) Oh wow, so many. Ocean Beaches Parks (play type and nature of all varieties) Ski trails Library with terrific creative and meeting spaces Teen Center; also senior Center Art museum and other museums Outdoor Ice skating Bike trail Public docks on river and ocean for kayaking, SUP, boating, swimming, etc Endless miles of conservation land and woods for hiking, biking, skiing, etc This is just what I can think of off the top of my head that's free here in town. 30 minutes out would include tons of other free stuff. Edited January 19, 2017 by MEmama 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Free? The outside. I love our Little library but it's definitely not fit for casually getting together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted January 19, 2017 Author Share Posted January 19, 2017 These are all good. Howver, to narrow things a bit,I am not so much thinking of free activities, as free places where we can be social with others. There will be some overlap of course, so you can swim at a beach or meet friends and see new people. But some places for activity aren't so good for meeting with people, if that makes sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted January 19, 2017 Author Share Posted January 19, 2017 Free? The outside. I love our Little library but it's definitely not fit for casually getting together. What is your climate like? In some places outside is a reliable venue. Not so much where I live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scholastica Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 (edited) We're pretty spoiled. We have fantastic parks and hiking/biking areas when the weather is good. Also, our zoo, history museum and art museum are all free admission. There are paid exhibits and activities at all of them, as well. One of the state conservation areas has an awesome nature museum. I haven't seen another area of the country with comparable offerings with no charge. Almost forgot the Audubon Society has a fantastic migratory bird sanctuary, also free. They do take donations. Edited January 19, 2017 by scholastica Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 There is nothing free except the mall, and taxpayers paid a chunk for that. Taxes or fees are involved in renting a room, or having park facilities to use. The cheapest possibilities for get togethers are park or mall tables, or coffee at a fast food. The teens meet at the park for basketball,the seniors meet at the park or mall to walk. Our public libraries are filled with homeless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 What is your climate like? In some places outside is a reliable venue. Not so much where I live. Yes when I lived in (coastal) California there were year round weekly outdoor activities you could set your clock by. New England, notsomuch haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambam Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I'm feeling slightly jealous now. We have a public library with a meeting room. Your group can have it once a quarter for free. Advance registration is required. We have public parks. But, in TX, often it is too cold or too hot or too humid. Besides, the city now charges us $50 at peak times (anytime not during school hours) to reserve pavilions. Or $100 if you live outside the city limits. We have several community centers, but again, you have to pay to reserve (typically $50-100). And *NO* teen parties. But after listening to the horror stories, I'm not sure I blame them. We have coffee shops. We have restaurants. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Libraries Some of the grocery stores have a community meeting room -- not sure if they charge or not. Our babywearing group used to use a local church, and I don't think they charged. Our support group often uses a gym/kitchen space from a church who used to have a school, and we don't pay much for it. State parks are free here. Lots of small township parks with pavilions and play equipment for children. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted January 19, 2017 Author Share Posted January 19, 2017 There is nothing free except the mall, and taxpayers paid a chunk for that. Taxes or fees are involved in renting a room, or having park facilities to use. The cheapest possibilities for get togethers are park or mall tables, or coffee at a fast food. The teens meet at the park for basketball,the seniors meet at the park or mall to walk. Our public libraries are filled with homeless. That's a lot of homeless people, to take up all the room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 our homeschool group meets at: park recreation area by river ($2/car) - many people's favorite in nice weather outdoor skate park (free) community rec center in nearby town - basically a plain gym without amenities (free) women's community center (donation) skating rink (once a month; small fee to skate, none for accompanying adults) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 (edited) That's a lot of homeless people, to take up all the room.A couple states ago we had a stupendous local library with a wonderful kids space. The kids space, however, was bordered on two sides by computer banks. The other two sides were the walls. The computers were filled 24-7 with homeless. The library provided wonderful puzzles, games and coloring materials in the kids area. But the tables were full of....Homeless people. This IN AND OF ITSELF is nbd. Like I told the kids, those adults happened to need the tables and computers more than we did. But! There was no leisurely, long trips to that library and certainly no meetings with friends. Ykwim? I felt much worse for teenagers who TRIED to study tgere, than us. All the other areas of the library were "quiet" areas, so you couldn't have tutoring or group projects going on. Anyway I'm saying some libraries just aren't big enough for all the enclaves of folks who'd like to use them. If it's ME or homeless, that's a super easy choice, though. Edited January 19, 2017 by OKBud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted January 19, 2017 Author Share Posted January 19, 2017 A couple states ago we had a stupendous local library with a wonderful kids space. The kids space, however, was bordered on two sides by computer banks. The other two sides were the walls. The computers were filled 24-7 with homeless. The library provided wonderful puzzles, games and coloring materials in the kids area. But the tables were full of....Homeless people. This IN AND OF ITSELF is nbd. Like I told the kids, those adults happened to need the tables and computers more than we did. But! There was no leisurely, long trips to that library and certainly no meetings with friends. Ykwim? I felt much worse for teenagers who TRIED to study tgere, than us. All the other areas of the library were "quiet" areas, so you couldn't have tutoring or group projects going on. Anyway I'm saying some libraries just aren't big enough for all the enclaves of folks who'd like to use them. If it's ME or homeless, that's a super easy choice, though. Yes, that could certainly be a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 (edited) We have a sort of little museum district which has free music festivals and other activities, very cheap ($2) ice skating in winter, and the adjoining art museum, which has a nice sitting area, is always free admission. Our metro area is surrounded by national parks / forest which is always free admission. Many guided hikes / demos etc. are also free in the parks. We have one of the best library systems in the country, which holds many free activities for all ages, from cultural foo foo stuff to job seeker helps to elderly services. Some of the libraries have nice casual meeting places both indoors and outdoors. A couple of outdoor malls which host free music in their "public squares" on certain days. The zoo is free on certain days. The usual parks, church activities that are open to the public, many institutions of higher learning with gathering places .... Edited January 19, 2017 by SKL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 (edited) That's a lot of homeless people, to take up all the room. The city library is near the soup kitchen, so in cold weather, people come in to the library to warm and wait since they can't stay at the shelters during the day. None of the churches adjacent are open to them. The rural libraries are small, so easy to fill the handful of seats. The community centers and churches are not open as warming spots. Edited January 19, 2017 by Heigh Ho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 There is one park. Otherwise, nothing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 There is one park. Otherwise, nothing. 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted January 19, 2017 Author Share Posted January 19, 2017 The city library is near the soup kitchen, so in cold weather, people come in to the library to warm and wait since they can't stay at the shelters during the day. None of the churches adjacent are open to them. The rural libraries are small, so easy to fill the handful of seats. The community centers and churches are not open as warming spots. Interesting. Rural libraries here are small, but rural areas don't tend to have homeless people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Rural homeless are hidden. The ones around here know their squatters rights, so snowbirds and hunting cabin owners need to be aware. We are seeing more because the banks have started foreclosing now that the economy is better. The years of not paying rent or mortgage are coming to an end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Library YMCA Visitor centers at some parks (can meet there, do research, talk with rangers, do nature walks and take classes Dog park Community center Swimming pool Mall Churches Parks with outdoor amphitheaters Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 If inexpensive, but not free, counts as well: Our local pub is great as a not free, but inexpensive, meeting place. During happy hour, a beer is $3, and I have never been looked at weird for just ordering tea. There are large tables for groups, board games, or corners to sit, sip and read. It fills towards evening, but in the afternoon there is plenty of space. We sometimes had book club there. Local art studio offers coffee&create for a few bucks. Get together and work on a simple art project. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Museums (not free but if you have a membership then you get "free"access to certain rooms and area Free Community events at local schools and colleges Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathnerd Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Mostly local coffee places - for the price of a drink, I can spend an hour there with anyone that I want to meet up with. Parents bring kids and do schoolwork there sometimes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Our libraries have seating areas and rooms that can be hard to book for a recurring time but can be okay for drop-ins. Lakes with beaches - some in county or state parks are free off season. In my county alone, we have 39 County Parks, usually free except special events or classes. They almost all include hiking. There is also 2 arboretums, 5 golf courses (minimal fees), a stables, 2 outdoor sports/recreation complexes, an indoor sports complex/ice skating rink (minimal fees for skating), 4 historical areas including a working historical farm, 3 or 4 nature centers, a marina, and a lake beach. A few playgrounds that are decent for both younger and older kids, with ball fields and pavilions. Our mall has a little kids play area. That's just my county. I can be in one of four or five other counties within 30 minutes depending on time of day. Our YMCA you have to have a membership to get in. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 We have two free museums close by, both with cafes, one with small adjoining park. Apart from that, there are riverside walks and parks. There's an arboretum and a library. There are two beaches and a leisure centre with a pool. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 We have one super-upscale mall has a lovely open space with natural light, tables and chairs as well as comfy chairs. Coffee shop nearby. I used to take my kids there in the winter when they were toddlers and young preschool age. I never buy anything there, but it is a nice place to walk or just sit and read or talk. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Our state parks, maintained by tax dollars and $10 per annum for a vehicle pass, are not "free" but so worth the piddly dollars devoted to them. Our Great Lakes, National Forest, National Seashore, and Dunes are VERY worth the gas to visit. In the summers our DNR eangers offer a ton of science, nature, and history activities at no additional cost. Our fisheries are also no admission to see, and the tours are worth sticking around for. In the young years, just spending the summer traveling around the state parks, lighthouses, Dunes visitor center, etc. and doing the activities and hikes would be a great science program for youngsters. Our local library has a lot of stuff for children age 2 through 5th grade but it really falls off after that. The Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Flint offers some classical concerts for free each year, the Detroit Insitute of Arts is nearly free for students and onmy $8 for adults with TONS of amazing activities for kids. There is a feee srudent day at Dow Nature Center once per year, and one can tour the Capitol Building in Lansing for free as well as meet with your district rep if you call well in advance. University of Michian Flint hosts family Math Night, Family Science Night, Asteonomy Night, Ary Night, and some music events for kids all for free. There is usually one kid/family friendly event each month of the regular school year. There are probably similar things on the west side of the state and up north. I am just not as well versed in the options in those communities. Oh Folk music nights at White Crow Conservatory in Saginaw - at least time I checked it was free but it has been a couple of years, and children/students are free to all events held at Oscar Remick Center for Performing Arts Alma College are free. Adults are $10. They haev AWESOME plays and concerts plus special speakers. We used to go there a lot with the kids until C enters U of MI Flint/Ann Arbor (he was admitted to both and due to health concerns has a special plan from U of MI that allows him to attend at the closer campus when he needa to come home for physical therapy which is what he is doing this semester) so we began attending more of the cultural and academic events at these schools. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Our YMCA you have to have a membership to get in. At our Y, the meeting rooms are before the admission desks where you have to show your membership. Anyone in the community can reserve and use the meeting rooms for free as long as the purpose is not for profit. For actual Y membership, they do offer a sliding scale for lower income families. Fire stations also have rooms that you can reserve and use for free as long as it is non-profit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Oops. My list was "free or nearly free for families" but I did not catch the "to meet in a larger group" part. Sorry! Most of these places do have a meeting room but they are not available for free and run anywhere from $50 - $500 or even more for the conference room depending on amenities and how long you want to use it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam in CT Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 My town has 17,000 residents. Our library is *fantastic,* and has two large areas where socializing/talking is fine. One of them has a large fireplace with sofas and puzzle tables. There's also a teen room where talking is allowed. It also has a community concert room and 3 large conference rooms that the PTA, garden club and various other civic organizations use. We have a town-run swimming hole with adjacent playground and large picnic gazebo (we have to reserve this, though there's no charge) and hiking trails; and another riverfront park with picnic facilities. There are lifeguards from Memorial to Labor Day, and beyond that swim at your own risk. The climate allows people to use the picnic facilities April-October; parents bring kids to the playground anytime the ground isn't covered with snow (today). There are also playground facilities adjacent to several of the soccer field complexes. There are town tennis courts -- there's a system to reserve, I dunno if there's a charge. The town is in the process of building a bike trail that connects the lower and northern parts of town. There's also a Y with two pools, community rooms and another swimming hole with rather a nice beachfront. The membership is fairly high, though-- now that the kids are past the swimming-and-karate-lesson phase we've let the membership lapse. We're very fortunate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I did forget about the entire Jersey shore that is pretty much free during the off-season. Some are open access on weekdays even in the summer (few but I'm pretty sure there's still some). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Greater Cleveland has a huge metroparks system, with several free nature centers. It's a huge blessing in the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 What size/type of group are you thinking of? Are you thinking of a casual get together or for a meeting like a class? I've never had trouble finding a free place to meet with 1-2 other families. If I was wanting a space for a larger group there are a fewer options but our library is free and the one nature center has an indoor meeting room and a decent sized outdoor area with picnic tables. Our church even lets non-church groups use the facility if is available. If the group was anti-church it would be a problem but if your quilting group or bay blades group needs a meeting space they will let you use it for free or a minimal clean up fee. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Outside or, for small and not messy activities, the floor of my friend's shop. Basically, the town socialises in an unstructured environment, in public, for the three months of the year the pool is open. The rest of the year is structured activities only. Some of the action groups hire rooms at the library or the senior citizens hall. I don't know what the costs are like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Churches here charge if a non-church group wants to hire their space. There are no freebies, unless you are a member, and sometimes not even then. Our homeschool group used to have a weekly arrangement with a church, but we got kicked out because kids don't play quietly. And I'm not talking about feral behaviour, just normal playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 Churches here charge if a non-church group wants to hire their space. There are no freebies, unless you are a member, and sometimes not even then. Around here some charge and some don't. You can tell which ones don't because they host lots of stuff. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 I don't mind if they charge; it's their property and they can do what they like. Rosie, did y'all remind me about the whole 'suffer the little children' thing ? Sure. There's no reason they should pay for our using their water and electricity. Apparently this doesn't apply to big kids or little disabled kids. It wasn't the pastor with the problem, I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
City Mouse Posted January 19, 2017 Share Posted January 19, 2017 When the kids were little, my friend and I knew every restaurant that had a playground attached. The kids could play while the moms got to visit. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted January 20, 2017 Author Share Posted January 20, 2017 Oops. My list was "free or nearly free for families" but I did not catch the "to meet in a larger group" part. Sorry! Most of these places do have a meeting room but they are not available for free and run anywhere from $50 - $500 or even more for the conference room depending on amenities and how long you want to use it. Ah, no, your list was fine. Actually, I was thinking more of contact with people more generally rather than just an organized group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted January 20, 2017 Author Share Posted January 20, 2017 Ah, I think Rosie hit on what I was trying to get at! Outside or, for small and not messy activities, the floor of my friend's shop. Basically, the town socialises in an unstructured environment, in public, for the three months of the year the pool is open. The rest of the year is structured activities only. Some of the action groups hire rooms at the library or the senior citizens hall. I don't know what the costs are like. I'm really interested in where people, who may or may not know each other, go to met, talk with, or just be around other people. Someplace like a lake or pool or community area where people congregate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendyroo Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 This is a big problem around us. This is a very family oriented area, but the weather makes outdoor meetups very inconvenient for half of the year. We have a lot of amazing parks, but the parking lots are not plowed (and we are in the top 10 snowiest cities in the country) and the restrooms are not open from the middle of October until the beginning of May. Even if a homeschool group wanted to have a park day in the late fall, winter or early spring, how on Earth could they bring a bunch of kids to a park with no restrooms? We have a fantastic library system, and that is where most casual meetups happen, but when a group of kids get together there, it can be very hard to keep the volume at a reasonable level. Other than fast food play places (which we have very few of) there are no other free indoor play areas. No public pools indoors or out, no open gym even for short periods each week, no indoor tracks, no where free to get any sort of indoor exercise in the winter other than walking at the mall. Wendy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Argh! What is with that? Parks need toilets and fences to keep runaway toddlers in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendyroo Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Argh! What is with that? Parks need toilets and fences to keep runaway toddlers in! None of our parks are fenced, and October - April is pipe freezing weather. I understand why the rest rooms are closed for half the year, it is too expensive to heat the buildings and you can't have running water in unheated buildings when the weather turns, but it does put a damper on outdoor activities. Wendy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theelfqueen Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 I've hosted events in library rooms, police and fire station meeting rooms, some restaurants don't charge for their meeting rooms but do expect you to order... focus on the Family has a nice visitor center play area we used to visit when the kids were small. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Ah, I think Rosie hit on what I was trying to get at! I'm really interested in where people, who may or may not know each other, go to met, talk with, or just be around other people. Someplace like a lake or pool or community area where people congregate. I meet people in the grocery store, pharmacy, post office etc as well as the parks etc that I mentioned. I know many people by name and they know mine. From the checkout line we start meeting at Starbucks (not free!) or talk if we see each other at the Y or park or city council meetings. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Church, mall, bar are places one doesn't have to be a member or part of a program to get into conversations. Parents usually get to know one another when on the sidelines of a sporting event. Organized activities for the public are put on by civic groups, the library, and the parks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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