A recording studio, an exercise room, teen hangout and day care center.
And there's more.
An architect revealed this week preliminary plans for the new community center at Highlander Park, located on Pinehurst Road and Michigan Boulevard. Designs show a 52,000-square-foot, two-floor center with enough space for a gym larger than the one at Dunedin High School.
About $8-million in Penny for Pinellas funds could go to pay for the project, said Assistant City Manager Maureen Freaney. And last week, commissioners approved the purchase of Little Tots At Play day care center for $330,000. That space on Pinehurst Road will serve as the parking lot for the new center.
"I'm so excited," said Pat Kennedy, former recreation supervisor for Dunedin. "It's going to be beautiful. The performing arts - we really need to pay attention to that. The whole point of the community center is we have to look ahead to what we want in the future."
Kennedy was one of about 50 people who attended a public meeting Wednesday at the old community center in Highlander Park, one of a series the city has held to get residents' input on the park and the new community center. The last one will be June 30.
The new center will replace the existing building, which has served as the community center for more than 30 years. About 155,000 people use the Dunedin Community Center each year.
According to a survey in which 463 residents responded, a new center is one of the most important improvements that needs to be made to Highlander Park.
But a few residents in attendance Wednesday were concerned that the preliminary design was excessive.
"There's a little too much," said Samantha Nelson, 19, who lives on Pinehurst. "I think little things can be improved. The parking lot is right next to the pond. It's bigger than the community center."
"When I look at that huge parking lot across the street from my house, I'm not pleased," said her father, Steve Nelson.
For the Dunedin Community Chorus, the acoustics in the current center are bad. The group has to book other places for concerts.
"We cannot perform here," said Alicia Johnson, a chorus member. "It's not big enough. As far as the new gym being too big, we need that for seating."
Richard Gehring, who is working with the architect on the project, said the preliminary design is in response to the surveys, previous public meetings and demographics.
Recording studios in community centers are becoming more popular, he said, and preschool and after-school programs are important. There is no indoor city court in Dunedin except the one in the new Martin Luther King Jr. Center, which won't be finished until later this summer.
"There were more people with specific issues and special programs supporting music, different athletics, exercise programs," Gehring said. "One person would say something negative, and others would say, "No, that's important.' "
On Wednesday, someone even asked if the center could have a place for pickle ball, a paddle game played on a badminton-sized court.
Commissioners are scheduled to see a final site plan next month, said Freaney.
In the meantime, architectural firm Collman and Karsky will review the preliminary design and make some changes.
"Each time you do one of these things, you're learning more and getting more feedback," Gehring said. "Now the design team will turn around and try to address a number of the issues."
