Chelsea Community Center moves closer to opening

The Chelsea Community Center could open as soon as September, said Mayor Earl Niven. The opening was previously set for this summer, but weather delays and plan alterations delayed the project.

One delay involved the reinstallation of ceiling tiles. Niven said many of the tiles had to be removed after turning up at the edges, and replacement tiles were being installed in late July.

A lot of work will also go into details, Niven said. In the senior rooms, there are plans for a couch or loveseat area in addition to sets of tables and chairs.

“You can come in and have a seat. You’ve got people back there playing cards, dominoes and things like that and you just want to come here and sit down, drink a cup of coffee or something, we’ll have a little area here,” Niven said.

In pre-council for the July 21 City Council meeting, Niven discussed the plans for furnishing the senior area. He said Shelby County will offer up to $25,000 for the senior area, and he was brainstorming options for the space.

The senior area will have an accordion wall, allowing for the space to divide into two rooms when necessary. It also attaches to a warming kitchen, to allow banquets or receptions in the senior area or community room to bring and store food.

The community room, located across the hall from the senior area, will be rented out to groups for classes, banquets or meetings. Niven said there is already a karate class hoping to rent the space.

A community meeting room on the other end of the building will also be available for rent. It can be divided with an accordion wall, and Niven said he anticipates neighborhood groups, Kiwanis Clubs and similar organizations using the space.

When construction is complete, Niven said there will be a set of guidelines and a calendar available online so that groups can sign up for when they want the rooms.

Anyone hoping to exercise will have the option of a fitness room, including Curves equipment, treadmills, stair steppers and stationary bikes, the basketball court and The gym includes six adjustable goals, bleachers to seat 300 and places for volleyball nets. Niven said the gym could be used for more community events, but no plans are set yet.

“There’s so many things that we can do that we don’t know yet or we have not planned for,” Niven said. “So we could have a skate night and just turn them loose.”

The Community Center also includes a nursery area. Niven said there will not be a full-time employee for the nursery, but a group can notify the center when they would need childcare and someone will come in.

Once the building is finished and furnished, Niven said there are plans for an outdoor activity area, including horseshoes and possibly a basketball goal, as well as an outdoor grilling area near the warming kitchen.

“Just when you get to the end of a job, there’s so many loose ends that have to be tied, but we’re looking forward to that day of the grand opening,” Niven said.