North Morrow Volume XXIIII Number 10 May 6, 2016
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Rec Center to break ground May 12th!
The above rendering, provided by Robertson-Sherwood Architects, shows the proposed Boardman Recreation Center as viewed from the southwest. See Page 10 for additional views. Photo contributed
You’re Invited! Please join us for our Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Boardman Recreation Center Thursday, May 12th - 2:00 pm The location is on Olsen Road near the SAGE Center
SEE YOU THEN! Boardman Park & Recreation District Board of Directors & Staff
May 12th, 2:00 pm will bring a chapter of the story about Boardman wishing for an indoor pool and other recreation facilities to an end, with the chapter of the construction just beginning. For over 20 years, residents have pined for these facilities. The passage of a $12.390 million general obligation bond last year is bringing this dream to fruition. Boardman Park & Recreation District is the entity that is building the structure and will run the recreation center when it is complete. “What’s taken us so long to get going on the construction?” asked Board Chair Karen Pettigrew. “We really had no knowledge of what we were undertaking; we’re a volunteer board, we thought we’d just hire a contractor and start building, but we had a lot to learn
about being a public agency and what is required.” The general obligation bonds were sold September 15, 2015, but Pettigrew says that a lot of legalese was required by the state and many lawyers were needed. Then there are requirements about postings when you’re looking for architects, construction managers, engineers and contractors. The volunteer board of directors, which consists of Ray Michael, Krista Price, Kathy Moore, Blair Purcell and Pettigrew, has been meeting at least once each week to make this process happen. They continue to work on budgeting - how they will afford the operating of this structure, which is over 40,000 square feet, when it is finally built. The District is hopeful that a large, local company will want to
make a donation for “naming rights” to the building, which would help with the budgeting process. The board has been mindful to include the amenities the public said they wanted, way back in all the public meetings that were held. In order to include everything on their wish list, the board decided to go with a less expensive exterior, a metal building (Butler, a wellknown manufacturer) rather than concrete, brick or block. “We’re not building an edifice, we’re building a structure that holds lots of amenities inside,” they stated. The recreation center is being constructed near the SAGE Center, and will complete a campus when Blue Mt. Community College and the Early Learning Center are constructed, also within the next year.