Wayne City Council approved a $1.8 million plan to renovate and upgrade the City of Wayne Community Center. Theconceptual plan was presented by Kim Alexander, director of Wayne Parks and Recreation, at the regularly scheduled Council goal setting session on January 28 and approved February 19th. “The Community Center is used on a daily or weekly basis by many Wayne residents. It's a natural place for people to gather and more people are taking advantage of it,” she explained.

When fully implemented the upgrade will make the 30-year-old Community Center structure, which is located at Howe and Annapolis roads, more responsive to current recreational trends and more accessible to handicapped patrons, as well as make better use of the existing space inside the center, said Alexander. “We feel we’re not using the space we have in the best way possible,” she told members of the Wayne City Council, “And this proposal will go a long way to rectifying that.”

“It’s definitely needed,” said Wayne Mayor Al Haidous. “It’s a good, attainable proposal.” Councilwoman Pam Dobrowolski expressed agreement, saying, “It’s really the direction I think we need to go in if we’re going to keep our fitness center and bring in new memberships.”

City Manager John Zech commented, “Although it would be a strain on the City’s General Fund, I believe we can make it work.”

The City may sell bonds to finance the plan, which would be repaid over a 20-year period at an annual cost of approximately $70,000. However, it is projected that the renovations will create approximately $70,000 in additional annual revenue for the City, making it essentially a breakeven project.

Planned Community Center Upgrades Include:

 

• Move exercise equipment from the upper level down to the first floor in order to facilitate handicapped client use
• Renovate four racquetball courts at the back of the building into one large new weight training room
• Remodel two of the front three racquetball courts into a large cardio training room
• Remodel upper level space into additional exercise rooms or multi-purpose rooms to better accommodate the growing Jazzercise program
• Enhance both the men’s and women’s locker rooms, plus expand men’s locker room
• Divide and renovate the current women’s work out area into a massage therapy room as well as health and wellness consultation office
• Remodel the entry to the Recreation and Exercise Club (REC)
• Add a new control desk for the REC
• Enhance the lobby to eventually provide wireless Internet service
• Replace and upgrade the sign in front of the building with an electronic message board