Rec center still in planning stage

 PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – The Recreation Facility Committee met recently with interested citizens to share the latest developments in its plans to find a site for a new recreation center.
     Approximately a dozen individuals were on hand Feb. 28 to share their thoughts and comments on the subject.
Leading the discussion were Kevin Sipe, of the Rec Department’s board, and Chris Beaulieu, director of the department.
Sipe explained the task of the committee was to pursue a replacement of the William Haskell Center, located on Main Street. He noted the current building is approximately 65 years old and had many issues of concern.
“Parking is an issue, as is the small single-use gym. The roof has leaks, there’s minimal seating and we lack the ability to offer multiple programs (due to space),” said Sipe.
Additional concerns included the heating system, lack of lockers and showers, with no room to expand or grow.
The committee’s vision, according to Sipe, is to have a multi-use facility where a number of programs can be held simultaneously.
“We want to create a community center – a hub for the community,” said Sipe.
Beaulieu indicated the new facility would need to be much larger than the current center.
“For the gym alone, we’d need twice the size we have now,” said Beaulieu.
Sipe indicated the committee had narrowed its search to three parcels of property.
“Several sites have been narrowed to a few, including the Fairview Acres site, property owned by the University of Maine at Presque Isle and a parcel next to Mantle Lake Park,” said Sipe.
Cathy Beaulieu, owner of Wilder’s Jewelry Store and director of the Downtown Revitalization Committee, was on hand and expressed interest in keeping the center closer to the downtown area.
“It’s surprising our city has no cohesive plan for a recreation center. Of course, I’m interested in keeping the facility closer to the downtown area,” said Beaulieu.
Beaulieu went on to question ways to keep any new facility connected with the downtown area, through use of the existing bike path. She asked if there was, “any way to more economically use a couple different sites, using the bike path to connect them?”
Sipe indicated the committee had looked at all city-owned property but most of it was just too small to meet the present and future needs of a recreational facility. He said Cunningham Middle School had been considered but had since been rejected due to needed upgrades to make the building usable for such a center and the size of the property – approximately 3.2 acres – being too small to accommodate a parking lot, playing field and future expansion.
At this point, the group began discussing other options for the center, including swapping city-owned property for parcels owned by local businesses and homeowners.
“What about leveling the Riverside facility?” asked Frank Bemis, a local attorney.
Beaulieu responded, noting that would involve the city having to acquire and level about 10 houses in the area to come up with the space needed for the project.
Discussion continued, with talk of extending Greenhill Drive to make better access to the property near Mantle Lake. But like the UMPI parcel, this option would draw people away from downtown and possibly have children moving along a section of the Houlton Road that is heavily traveled. Fairview Acres, on the other hand, would draw business away from Main Street. Bemis suggested considering a modular idea rather than one parcel of land.
“I think it should be explored – modular rather than all in one. We could keep everything on the south end of Main Street – may have parcels that would be of interest to move to, say, Parsons, so the business could consolidate in one area,” said Bemis, referring to the property currently owned by MPG on Main Street. “This is something that could be explored.”
Beaulieu noted the committee was leaning toward having everything at one site.
Ken Arndt, the city’s planning director, questioned the need for additional ball fields when demographics have indicated a decrease in the area’s youth population.
“The youth population won’t be increasing in the near future. How do you figure you need more youth ball fields and such when demographics say otherwise?” asked Arndt. “If you’re looking at long-range plans, I’m inclined to think you want to look at a community center rather than a recreational complex.”
Beaulieu clarified, saying it wasn’t necessarily the committee’s goal to increase the number of ball fields but to instead replace some of those in existence now.
Discussion drew to a close with those in attendance agreeing the committee should visit other facilities throughout the state to get ideas and meet with other community leaders to learn what has worked for them and how decisions were made. Still in the planning stage, the committee is currently working on ways to come up with the needed funding. Current options include fund-raisers, a referendum vote, increased taxes and grants.