The Eastside Recreation Center – with temperatures that surpass 100 degrees in the summer – will receive air conditioning and other improvements, with help from a state grant.
The facility, located at 1080 E. Chicago St., includes indoor soccer fields, billiards, batting cages and a large weight-training area. Park officials estimate the facility serves more than 250 people a day in the winter, but very few in the summer due to the heat.
Mitch Lehman, Eastside Recreation Center facility manager, said the thermometer in his office has read 104 degrees in the summer months.
Besides installing air conditioning, the work will make the bathrooms and other aspects of the building comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and replace an aged boiler system, among other projects, said Randy Reopelle, Parks and Recreation Director.
A $1.8 million Department of Natural Resources grant will fund most of the project with the city contributing about $600,000 more.
Although the project got an initial OK from most of the City Council, there was some resistance.
“I do have some concerns in these times that we have fiscal problems in the city,” said Richard Dunne, who eventually voted for the project. “Because of the jobs it’s creating and because it’s in the budget…so I will support it, but I do have concerns.”
John Prigge, however, was not as supportive. He was the sole member to vote against the project, saying it was unclear if the building was worth the money that will be going into it. Plus, he pointed out, no programs would be cut if the work isn’t done.
“We’re not looking at an emergency,” he said. “I just can’t commit that kind of money to this. Not now.”
Several officials mentioned how it’s important for the city to take advantage of the state grant that is being offered to cover a majority of the work.
Mayor David Kaptain said it’s also important to keep the facility because it’s a lower cost alternative than the other recreation center inside The Centre in downtown Elgin.
If it’s not maintained and closed down, many of its members wouldn’t have a similar facility to go to, he said.
Work is expected to be complete by late summer.
