Thornton breaks ground on community center

New rec center, library set to open fall 2024

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Work replacing ornton’s old Community Center on Eppinger Boulevard hit its second stage Feb. 27 as the city o cially kicked o construction on its successor.

“We all stood here back in October on a very cold day to say goodbye to the original library and community center from 1974,” Mayor Jan Kulmann told a group of fellow City Councilors, sta , neighbors and partners from Anythink Library Feb. 27 in the park overlooking the build- lot ornton history, whether you grew up coming here to hang out with friends, meet neighbors for a cup of co ee, check out a good book or enjoy outdoor recreation, this space is so important to us.” e building will have traditional recreation areas like the gymnasium, dance studios, and boxing gym as well as shared spaces for rental, makerspace for community members to enjoy. e library will include many of the features of an Anythink library, plus a meditation garden and access to the outdoor park amenities, such as the skate park and playing elds.

Work on the new 40,000 squarefoot building is expected to continue into late 2024.

According to plans, the 40,000-square-foot building designed by Studiotrope Design Collective will house the ornton Community Center as well as an approximately 10,000-square-foot Anythink library.

“ is unique partnership between the City of ornton and Anythink will create an incredible gathering space for the residents of ornton and Adams County,” ornton Parks, Recreation and Community Programs Director Doug Romig said in a written statement. “ e facility will serve our community in a way that I am not aware exists anywhere else, and we are excited to see this vision come to fruition.” e building is tentatively sched- uled to open in fall/winter of 2024. e current Anythink York Street sta and collections will serve the south ornton community from this new location when it opens.

“Anythink and ornton know that when we work together, great things happen for our community,” Lynne Fox, a trustee for the Anythink Board of Directors, said. “ ornton sta has been working with partners for decades so our residents are safer and happier and more prosperous. is another growing example of that. Soon, parents will be able to drop a kid at the skatepark, drop another kid at a dance class and then head over to the library for story time. It’s going to be a wonderful experience for our community.” retirement. Eligible borrowers can pay o an existing mortgage payments* while receiving proceeds on a monthly or