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Construction begins on new park building

The 9,000-square-foot addition will complement the design of Northdale Park's recreation center.

By TIM GRANT
Published March 25, 2005

NORTHDALE - The acres of freshly turned dirt at Northdale Park will be the site of a new recreation center building.

When the $1.7-million project is completed in December, an enclosed courtyard will link the current building at the park with a new one that will more than double the amount of meeting space for Northdale neighbors.

"It will tie in with the other building and make it look like both were built at the same time," said John Brill, spokesman for the county's Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department.

The 9,000-square-foot addition will be the same color and design as the 6,500-square-foot recreation center off Northdale Boulevard that is too often crammed to capacity with people using it.

Parking at the 16-acre park also will increase from 23 spaces to 113.

"It's going to make all the difference for the children's after-school program," said Nancy Stearns, president of the Northdale Civic Association. "These kids are on waiting lists because there's no room."

More children will also be able to attend the summer vacation program at the park, just west of Dale Mabry Highway. More adult organizations will get to use the building during the week.

"Organizations that have been closed out because of lack of room will be able to come," Stearns said, adding that membership in the Northdale OWLS seniors group has grown to the point where there is hardly enough room for the monthly meetings.

"Now we won't have to be squeezed in like so many sardines in a can," Stearns said.

Tim Grant can be reached at 813 269-5311 or at grant@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 24, 2005, 08:15:13]