Landscaping, patios adding more to community center appearance

Crews were paving areas with brick and adding landscape vegetation Monday around the New Albany Community Center.

New walkway areas have been added with safer steps to the street and plaza areas are now in front of and on the west side of the building. Architect Sam Creekmore, who designed the update, said he is planning another plaza type of area on the north side of the building. The lower level of the block has had new playground and picnic equipment added with existing equipment being renovated. Some trees have been planted as well and some off-street parking is planned for the upper area.

The building will remain handicapped-accessible, of course, but the old wrought iron posts will be replaced with sold posts and some of the other incompatible features changed.

Inside, the building has new handicapped-accessible restrooms, new floor and ceiling and the former stage area was removed to provide more room. The kitchen was removed along with the stage area and a new kitchen created on what used to be the north porch of the building.

A grant from Toyota helped pay for the playground equipment. Mayor Tim Kent said the city had been putting some tourism tax money aside for a few years to pay for the community center renovation.

The community center should be ready for public use at about the first of the year.

Below are more photos of the work being done: