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Community center comes to end of delays
By LOGAN D. MABE © St. Petersburg Times, published November 12, 2000 NORTHDALE -- At long last, the Northdale Community Center should be up and running next week as county recreation officials put the finishing touches on the complex.
"We just had some delays," said project manager Jim Carver. "From my desk, we're trying to get a strong working relationship with the design and construction community in supporting each other and in getting a good product." This week, workers began moving into the building, and next Thursday they will begin signing up children for the center's after-school child care program. Center director Debbie Robinson said fliers will go out next week to area elementary and middle schools. She said the program can accommodate about 140 children, and costs $15 for each three-month session and $30 for registration. "People have been calling, but I've told them they have to wait until we're fully open," Robinson said. Lois Kessler, recreation department section manager, said the building lacks only an inspection by the fire marshal and a final certificate of occupancy. Kessler said her department has been fielding calls from groups interested in using the center for meetings and activities. "We'll have senior programs in the morning and a home school wants to use the facility at night," Robinson said. "Right now, we've lined up other activities like line dancing, yoga, dog obedience, dancing, and also Boy Scout and Brownie troops." Even in the absence of an organized group, the community center has plenty of facilities for people just looking to do something constructive. The rooms include an arts and crafts room with a kiln, a game room, a computer lab, and a multipurpose room. Outside is playground equipment, tennis and basketball courts, and a roller hockey rink. "I think it's a delightful building on a delightful site," Carver said of the center at Northdale Boulevard and Spring Pine Drive. "And, we'll be adding more playground equipment and extending some walkway trails for exercise, and adding more trees." "It's beautiful," Kessler said. "To me, it's one of the better designed buildings. I like the color scheme and the layout, and it's got a nice, huge patio in the back, and it's in a beautiful setting." - Logan D. Mabe can be reached at 226-3464 or by e-mail at mabe@sptimes.com.
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