Parks and Recreation wins award for Community Center work

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A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	May, 2009	Return to newsletter index

The Saco Parks and Recreation Department on April 27th 2009 received the Maine Recreation & Parks Association Facilities of Merit Award for work performed at the Saco Community Center on Franklin Street. This award is given for new construction or substantial renovations of a community recreation facility located in the State of Maine.

The Saco Community Center, 75 Franklin Street is the old National Guard Armory built in 1940 and purchased by the City in 2004 with Recreation Impact Fees assessed on new homes in Saco.

Funding for the renovations at the Saco Community Center came from the following areas: Recreation Impact Fees, Efficiency Maine for energy efficiencies throughout the building, Homeland Security for the backup generator, York County Jail for kitchen equipment, CDBG Grant for the elevator and the Sweetser Park Fund. These sources of funding comprised the majority of funds used for renovations at the Saco Community Center.

The renovation projects completed at the Saco Community Center include:

Paving the gravel parking lot
Playground and adjacent practice field
Storm water retention and neighborhood drainage mitigation
New basketball court floor
New gym basketball backstops
Batting cage
Divider curtains and adjustable sports net system
Storage closets and concession stand
Gymnasium Bathrooms
Program Storage bay
Main Entrance and Reception Lobby, including donated McDonalds entry door
Before & After School Room
Program Director's Office
Commercial Kitchen
New energy efficient Windows and Doors
55kw generator for complete power backup
Parks Maintenance Building (New Construction - 2006 Citizen Bond) Some of the operating systems improvements were;
Reducing heat load by 15%
Energy efficient lighting inside the building and outside in parking areas
Heating system upgrades
Insulation of heating lines
Air handler unit for air quality
HVAC units for Reception and Senior Wing
Meeting room and office PTAC units

All of these improvements have helped the department realize a tremendous increase in programming attendance, a great meeting place for various community groups, a secure and pleasant voting location and an exemplary regional evacuation center. The Parks and Recreation Department staff encourages the citizens of Saco to stop in and see the changes that have been made to the new Saco Community Center.