HARTFORD — The Parks and Recreation Commission is seeking residents’ input on indoor recreation needs via an online survey that closes on January 11.

“We have a lot of recreation programming and a lot of park facilities,” Parks and Recreation Director Scott Hausler said by phone Tuesday. However, “one area that we consistently are challenged with is community recreation space,” he added.

The parks department uses school district buildings throughout the year for adult and teen programs. Those spaces are limited during the school year, and often lack air conditioning or custodial services in the summer, Hausler said.

“We are grateful” that the school buildings are available, he said, “but the demand for indoor space is more than what the schools can provide us.”

The town’s parks commission is driving the initiative, Hausler said, which grew out of a broader 2021 survey of recreation in Hartford.

“Right now we’re just trying to identify community need,” he said.

Depending on the survey results, the parks department and parks commission will move toward understanding the types of spaces the community feels would be beneficial, and then addressing considerations of location and cost.

“We’re in the very beginning stages,” Hausler said.

The survey may be found on the town website or at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2bxldys2