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Roberts Community Center emerges

By JON WILSON
Published December 31, 2006

Concrete is rising. Stems for walls poke up. A squad of workers buzzes here and there. A 51-horsepower John Deere loader rumbles.

The new Roberts Community Center, the last of three major recreation projects in the city, is popping out of the ground.

Planned for nearly 27,000 square feet, the center at 1240 50th Ave. N is expected to be completed by late summer or early fall, said John Green, capital improvements director.

"It's going to be unusual. It will be the city's combined youth and adult recreation center in one building," Green said.

The building's upper level will accommodate adult programs, with youth on the lower floor.

"There will be some shared space between the two," Green said.

Basketball players, and those who enjoy other indoor court activities, will have a new gym.

Much of the $5.9-million cost is coming from the county's 1-cent sales tax, known as the Penny for Pinellas. It finances many of the city's recreational projects.

At Roberts, the buildings that now house adult programs will be demolished.

The center originally was built in the late 1950s, about the same time as the first Northwest Community Center and Wildwood Community Center. Northwest was rebuilt and reopened in 2005. Wildwood was replaced in 2000.

[Last modified December 30, 2006, 22:16:01]