The Lancaster Recreation Commission has provided updates on its new recreation center. The Commission hosted two community meetings in January on 21 and 30, to provide updates on the building and share design ideas for community feedback. Executive Director Heather Dighe updated community members of plans at the Jan. 30 meeting, detailing how the new building will be ADA-compliant for senior members, lock points for early childhood education classrooms, and more storage space for the gym and music programs.
The Lancaster Rec Commission (Lancaster Rec) is a 501(c)3 organization that provides recreation and educational programs to the Lancaster community. The School District of Lancaster approached the Lancaster Rec Commission and the Lancaster Rec Foundation with an opportunity to take ownership of the building next door that was the former Price Elementary School.
The estimated cost for renovations of the 66,000 square foot facility is $11 million. The Rec has applied for both private and public funding and the project has been awarded $750,000 in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding.
The renovated space will add about 500 new childcare spots, senior center, health clinic, technology center, yoga/dance studio, wrestling/gymnastics room, and music and art programs. “The center is adding 14 early childhood education classrooms and eight school aged care classrooms, which will create about 40 new job opportunities,” said Dighe.
Dighe explained the center plans to move into the new center by August 2025 and aspires to have the first floor done by the end of December 2025. The rest of the building is projected to be done by 2026.
Photos:
(Photos: Brian McCloud)
