When Kirk Wythers heard about St. Paul's plans to shutter some recreation centers because of budget constraints, he grew a bit concerned.

Then the president of the St. Paul Blackhawks Soccer Club got excited about the prospect of taking over one of the centers with the goal of creating a European-style soccer training facility for youths. As of last week, it did.

The Blackhawks now have their own home at the Orchard Recreation Center in the North End neighborhood, and the city doesn't have to pay for utilities or staffing the center anymore.

The city has or is working on lining up deals with nonprofit groups to manage eight of its 41 rec centers, as a way to keep the buildings open and available to community members rather than locking the doors.

"The deal was, we move in and they forward us the bills," Wythers said.

Last fall, Mayor Chris Coleman suggested closing 10 centers to cut costs, but community feedback led to keeping Northwest Como and Prosperity open.

The city was $17 million short on its budget for 2008 and that led to a 15.1 percent increase in the city's portion of the property tax levy.

In addition to cost savings, the mayor reasoned that closing the less-attended centers would mean adding more staff, better hours and additional programs at other sites.

The rec center system is too big for the number of people served, said Parks and Recreation spokesman Brad Meyer. He said his department studied the conditions of the centers and the number of people who were using them.

The savings of not having to staff or maintain the eight buildings will be about $650,000 a year, Meyer said. Utility costs alone can range from $15,000 to $25,000 per site, depending on size and market fluctuations, he added.

Wythers said his club, which has about 1,000 youth players, has the money to keep up Orchard and is seeking grant money to upgrade the fields -- artificial turf is a possibility.

"Our goal is to try to figure out how to use it in a way to promote soccer as a growing sport in St. Paul and at the same time be good neighbors," Wythers said.

Meyer said that while other groups will be managing the eight centers, the city still owns them. "All we're asking is that they're accommodating to the public," he said.

Merrick Community Services, which provides an array of social services, is finalizing a deal to move into Eastview Recreation Center on the East Side.

"We expect to do everything the city did," executive director Fran Ivory said. Aside from the programs Merrick will provide, he said, neighborhood children and adults will be encouraged to use the facility.

Here's where the city is in its partnership process:

• Orchard: Deal approved with the Blackhawks.

• Eastview: Finalizing a deal with Merrick Community Services.

• St. Clair: Memo of understanding with West 7th Community Center.

• Highwood Hills, Homecroft and Frost Lake: Agreements are being worked out for St. Paul public schools to take over. All three centers are connected to school buildings.

• Dunning: Several groups have expressed interest in managing the site.

• Desnoyer: City is seeking interested groups.

Aside from partnerships in managing rec centers, the city has been looking at consolidation as another way to save money and improve service.

Chris Havens • 651-298-1542