Renovations complete at New Brighton Community Center
Just fewer than seven months of renovations at the New Brighton Community Center came to a ceremonial end the evening of April 28 with a ribbon cutting carried out by elected officials and city staff.
The $682,000 project that kicked off in October remade important — though behind-the-scenes — parts of the community center, creating new family-style restrooms and personal needs rooms, renovating and relocating restrooms and locker rooms.
The community center, built in 1994, had its original bathrooms and locker rooms up until last fall, which were designed to last 15 years.
"We get to enjoy the new bathrooms and locker rooms for a while," said New Brighton parks and recreation director Sandy Breuer, noting that the majority of the community center outlasted its planned lifetime, save the roof.
Breuer said community center visitors are giving the new amenities good reviews, adding that the renovations are "substantially completed," with the center still waiting on the delivery of things like tables and chairs.
Work on the next thing in line for improvement at the center — its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system — will take place largely out-of-sight and with fewer inconveniences to visitors than the locker room project, Breuer said.
Most of the HVAC equipment is located on the center's roof, she said, and visitors might experience some strange indoor weather during the work. Breuer said the updates are planned for this year.
Mayor Dave Jacobsen wielded the over-sized scissors at the ribbon cutting, and council members in attendance gave the renovations good marks.
Council member Paul Jacobsen said the project was "long overdue," saying "it's nice to be in the modern age," with respect to personal needs rooms, where, for instance, mothers can go to nurse their children.
The price of the renovations was a point of contention, prompting council member Gina Bauman to consistently vote against the project at all stages.
Council member Mary Burg acknowledged the cost of the project, then pivoted to the excitement of having the project completed.
"It's big bucks," Burg said. "But that's what's needed and it's done."
— Mike Munzenrider
Reported by: eastsidereviewnews.com
The $682,000 project that kicked off in October remade important — though behind-the-scenes — parts of the community center, creating new family-style restrooms and personal needs rooms, renovating and relocating restrooms and locker rooms.
The community center, built in 1994, had its original bathrooms and locker rooms up until last fall, which were designed to last 15 years.
"We get to enjoy the new bathrooms and locker rooms for a while," said New Brighton parks and recreation director Sandy Breuer, noting that the majority of the community center outlasted its planned lifetime, save the roof.
Breuer said community center visitors are giving the new amenities good reviews, adding that the renovations are "substantially completed," with the center still waiting on the delivery of things like tables and chairs.
Work on the next thing in line for improvement at the center — its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system — will take place largely out-of-sight and with fewer inconveniences to visitors than the locker room project, Breuer said.
Most of the HVAC equipment is located on the center's roof, she said, and visitors might experience some strange indoor weather during the work. Breuer said the updates are planned for this year.
Mayor Dave Jacobsen wielded the over-sized scissors at the ribbon cutting, and council members in attendance gave the renovations good marks.
Council member Paul Jacobsen said the project was "long overdue," saying "it's nice to be in the modern age," with respect to personal needs rooms, where, for instance, mothers can go to nurse their children.
The price of the renovations was a point of contention, prompting council member Gina Bauman to consistently vote against the project at all stages.
Council member Mary Burg acknowledged the cost of the project, then pivoted to the excitement of having the project completed.
"It's big bucks," Burg said. "But that's what's needed and it's done."
— Mike Munzenrider
Reported by: eastsidereviewnews.com
