One year to go
Activities in Chelsea will have a new home in about a year.
The new Chelsea community center broke ground off Highway 47 across from Liberty Baptist Church in May with a plan to create a multi-purpose center.
“We just want it to be a multi-purpose building that will serve the community,” Mayor Earl Niven said. “The purpose of the building is to provide activity space, and also serve as space for meeting.”
Architect Bob Wanninger designed the new $3.68 million building, which will occupy 29,000 square feet, with that purpose in mind.
Wanninger said he worked closely with Niven and the city council to develop a four-page list of things they wanted to see in the community center. That, paired with interviews with seniors and other citizens in Chelsea, determined Wanninger’s vision for the center.
“That is basically what an architect does, is to provide spaces for the concepts of the building,” he said.
Wanninger said the primary concerns he heard from the community were regarding the gymnasium and meeting rooms. He said the gym will be used as a multi-purpose room with a walking track above it. There will also be meeting places for seniors and the entire community.
Niven said there will be a senior wing to the facility. The area will include a kitchen, eating area, game room, arts and crafts area and large gathering room for large group activities.
“We’re bringing a facility to Chelsea that gives senior adults more activities and provides more basketball courts, a walking track and exercise areas for light exercise,” Niven said.
Outside the center will be walking trails and picnic benches to encourage more outdoor activities, as well as games like horseshoes and shuffleboard. Wanninger said he is also working on a putting green.
“That’s for me,” he said. “Since I’m a senior citizen too, and I like golf. I thought maybe other people would like it too.”
Argo Building plans to complete the project by July 2015 using Wanninger’s design and as many maintenance-free materials as possible to avoid problems in the future.
There will be a lot of events held at the community center, so Niven said to watch for announcements about them.