The town is nowhere close to pouring concrete, but it will soon take some concrete steps toward the design of a community recreation center.

Plans for a center have been in the works since 2019, and in discussion for years before. In 2019, the town conducted a feasibility study, which outlined possible options and price estimates.

That study also sought public input through a survey, which demonstrated an “overwhelming need in the community,” according to Town Administrator Shawn MacInnes. 

Architects presented the results of the feasibility study in March 2022. The recommendation at the time, MacInnes recalled, was to build three parallel basketball courts and a walking track. 

Also in 2022, the Select Board voted to fund a design for the community center using American Rescue Plan Act funds. To craft a design, the state requires that the town hire a project manager to help oversee the project and hire architects.

At the Oct. 2 Select Board meeting, the Board of Parks and Recreation and Select Board agreed to move forward with hiring a project manager and creating a design. The move was somewhat superfluous, as the Select Board already authorized the ARPA funding for the design in 2022, but MacInnes said he wanted to bring both boards together to get on the same page about the project. The town has already interviewed three project managers.

The Board of Parks and Recreation plans for the building to not only be used as a recreation space, but a community space. The building could also be used as a location for Town Meeting, and as an emergency shelter. 

“We definitely want to move forward,” said member Jim Vieira. “It’s something that’s needed very badly in this town.”

The architects responsible for the feasibility study estimated the project’s cost at close to $17 or $18 million. With inflation, the town now estimates closer to $20 million. 

“We’ve been kicking this can down the road for close to 20 years,” said Board of Parks and Recreation member Joe Vieira. “No more procrastination, we got to get moving on this.”

One snafu: the Town has not yet decided on a location for this facility. 

Some options were presented in the feasibility study, including at the old police station’s site, but the option preferred by Parks board members in attendance was the fields behind Crapo Fields’ back parking lot, on Russells Mills roads. The town has owned that land since 2006. 

Parks and Recreation Director Tim Lancaster said any design the town picks should emphasize energy efficiency and sustainability, as a long parallel building will have ample space for money-saving solar panels on the roof.  

Select Board Chair David Tatelbaum expressed some reservations about committing too readily to a recreation center design, as the newly formed long range capital planning committee is still mapping out a long-term plan for how the town should spend its money on large projects.

However, MacInnes said getting the design done now would allow the town to quickly take advantage of outside funding that becomes available at a later date.

Some of the continuing costs of the building could be alleviated: Joe said the project should be looked at as a “private-public partnership” with the local youth sports groups, who will be ready to help with maintenance and upkeep costs.

The building could also be used for young adult and senior recreation programs. 

“We have a vision that’s gonna incorporate the entire town,” Joe said. “It’s not just the kids, we’re talking about the 80-year-old kids that are out there also.” 

The Select Board voted unanimously to proceed with the project and hire a project manager.