Community Center has served residents well

The William V. Haskell Community Center has served the city of Presque Isle’s recreational needs for more than 60 years.
     The center has a long and revered tradition, having been acquired by the city from the United Services Organization in 1946 and serving as the community’s home to year-round recreation for both youth and adults ever since. However, a number of factors have led the Presque Isle Recreation Advisory Board to the conclusion that it is time for a new multi-purpose center that more adequately meets the needs of the community.
The current Main Street location faces heavy expenditures with vast improvements necessary to its roof and heating system. Other negatives include the high-traffic area in which it is located, inadequate parking, minimal spectator seating, the inability to offer multiple programs, the lack of proper storage, no locker rooms or showers and no room to expand or grow.
As a result of these factors and in order to further look into the possibilities of such a project, the Presque Isle City Council approved the creation of the Recreation Facilities Committee.
The facilities committee’s vision for a new multi-purpose building includes the ability to run multiple programs simultaneously, offer activities beyond sports for youth, offer programming for senior citizens, provide a gathering place for teenagers, become a community hub and host various events such as community meetings, educational meetings, health and wellness programs and after-school programming.
The needs to meet this vision include a gymnasium with more space for seating and storage and including a stage for fine arts performances; a senior citizens room for hosting card games, teas and luncheons; a room for teenagers to do homework, play games, watch television and meet with friends, while also hosting age-specific programs such as tutoring and weight management; and an activities room to provide space for classes such as arts and crafts, drama, dance, aerobics and yoga.
The facilities committee has been engaged with numerous conversations with officials of various institutions and agencies in an attempt to make this venture a cooperative effort. The selection of a site for the new building, generating initial conceptual designs of a new facility, and coming up with a list of potential grants and funding sources have also been part of the committee’s agenda.
The committee, which includes the city manager, a city councilor, the recreation and parks director and the seven members of the recreation advisory board, has been meeting biweekly since last fall to discuss plans for a new hub of recreation in Presque Isle. Last month, it received an endorsement from the city council to continue with plans to pursue a new facility.
Members of the committee are planning a trip to central and southern Maine next month to visit several of the newer recreation facilities in the state and to formulate a list of ideas for what should and should not be included in a new facility in Presque Isle.
The committee is also seeking thoughts from the community, and will host a forum on Monday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at City Hall to gather the public’s input. Ideas and comments can also be sent by e-mailing pirec@maine.rr.com.
Kevin Sjoberg of Presque Isle is a member of the Presque Isle Recreation Facilities Committee.