Bond proposed to fund rec center

    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – A bond bill currently being proposed in Augusta would help bring the city’s new recreation facility that much closer to a reality.
On Monday, Rep. Jeremy Fischer, D-Presque Isle, presented a bill to the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee that would authorize sending the matter to voters statewide. Funds from the $500,000 bond question, if approved, would be used for the construction of a recreation center in Presque Isle.
    Fischer said for years officials have been the voice of their communities at the state level. On Monday, it was Fischer’s turn to make a request on behalf of those he represents.
“For nearly 200 years, representatives from the four corners of Maine have elected officials to bring their concerns to the state Legislature,” said Fischer on Monday. “The people of Presque Isle did not send me today to ask for a handout, rather they ask for a partnership – they are more than willing to contribute their portion.”
Fischer said while a special earmark was the preferred option, other possibilities are being considered.
“While a special earmark is preferable, an equally acceptable proposition would be to amend the eligibility requirements of an existing program, like the New Century program, to allow our community’s proposal to compete with other similar proposals,” Fischer said.
The recreation center would fall under the direction of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and include a senior center, teen center/game room, as well as a full-size gym with locker rooms and showers.
The Recreation Facility Committee was created last fall to look into site and funding options for a new center to replace the over 60-year-old William V. Haskell Community Center, located on Main Street. Originally build as a USO club, the facility has served as a recreational facility for several generations, a community center and voting site. Over time, structural issues have become a concern, necessitating the current search for a new site and funding to pay for the new building.
To advance the process, the committee put out a request for qualifications for architectural and engineering services nearly a month ago. Four proposals were received and received by the group. The committee hoped to make their final decision by mid-April, with work to begin on conceptual drawings once a decision has been made.
A recent trip downstate provided committee members with ideas for their own center, as they toured seven new community centers around the state, including facilities in: Waterville, Bath, Rockport, Wiscasset and South Portland. The venture provided an opportunity for members to check out how other sites are operated, what the facilities offer and how they are laid out.
The size of the new structure has yet to be determined. The Haskell building is about 7,200 square feet. Officials indicated the new structure would need to be about twice that size.
Fund-raising efforts are under way, with the recent sale of pieces of the Cunningham Middle School gym floor bringing in over $2,000. Pieces are still available for sale, complete with a plaque and certificate, at a cost of $25 and can be purchased at the Rec Center in Presque Isle.
City officials were unavailable for additional comments at press time.