Good things come to those who wait. The completion of Presque Isle’s new Sargent Family Community Center is on the horizon, with the hope of opening sometime this October, just in time for voting.
Looking at the big picture, the new community center is on schedule and under budget, according to Presque Isle Recreation Director Chris Beaulieu. The building still isn’t open to the public, but builders are winding things down as they wait for the new floors to settle before they can put the finishing touches and begin to furnish the interior.
“I know the community is going to love it inside,” Beaulieu said.
Driving past the new 28,000 square foot facility makes you wonder how the Star City survived for so long with the previous rec center, which is dwarfed in comparison. The front doors of the new facility open into a lobby that could almost swallow the old rec. Once you’re in, you’re flanked by the new Teen Center on your left and Senior Center on your right.
From the front doors you can make a beeline to the gym to play ball. There are locker rooms, a conference room for gatherings, and, perhaps the best part, you won’t have to worry about waiting in line for when nature calls thanks to the 17 bathrooms throughout the building.
“The new community center will provide a hub to mingle,” Mike Chasse, Presque Isle city councilor, said.
The public can look forward to programs for all ages. With a mix of generations, young folks could learn how to knit or play cribbage while seniors could learn the fine art of taking down a boss in a video game.
A big question that’s been on the public’s mind this summer is when does the splash pad open? If you’re looking to cool off and play in the water you’ll have to wait until next year. Plans for the splash pad haven’t been nixed, they’re just TBA, and Beaulieu is hopeful his committee will bring some splashing good times for folks next summer.
“We owe it to the public to get this project done first before the splash pad,” Chasse said.
While loose ends are being tied up, like finishing up the Bishop’s Island ballfield across the street and making sure the new parking lot is in order, both Beaulieu and Chasse want to make sure the center is up to snuff for prime time in a few short months. So sit tight, but keep those basketballs at the ready to play ball later this fall.
