Corner Brook -
A fully-functioning community centre can do a lot for a neighbourhood, and Ben Fitzgerald is counting on the redeveloped Dunfield Park Community Centre to become a source of pride for the community.
The centre's executive director wants the stigma of living in Dunfield Park to disappear and part of the plan to make that happen is the expansion and re-design of the centre so it's fully accessible to the residents of the area.
It's also meant to serve the 2,300 residents in Newfoundland and Labrador Housing units in the Corner Brook area. In fact, there will soon be a contest to decide on the centre's new name.
"The idea of the name change is not to get away from Dunfield Park, but it's to address the fact that this newly-expanded centre is about serving all the tenants of Newfoundland and Labrador Housing tenants, whether it be from Farmdale of Hendon Drive area, Carter Avenue, Beothuck Crescent, in Curling or in Humbermouth," Fitzgerald said.
The first 40 years of Dunfield Park is something Fitzgerald says can look back on, but he hopes the next 40 find the opportunity for change being taken.
He knows what a community centre can do. A 14X16 security guard house became a youth centre and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's mischief calls went from an average of 68 a month to two a month.
While it's currently being housed at Ivy Court, the temporary location is far from an ideal spot.
The first thing the new centre will do is increase access to the programs.
"There is not a whole lot of accessible programs outside what we offer for this demographic," Fitzgerald said. "Because of transportation barriers and other factors the ability for one of our kids to play minor hockey, it's just not possible."
The sooner the new centre is built, the sooner accessible programming will be available for at-risk youth, Fitzgerald said.
Brook Construction has been given the contract for the ground preparation and foundation work, which must be complete by Jan. 8. If work begins in January, Fitzgerald believes the project can be completed by September. If construction has to wait until the spring thaw the project will likely clew up in late fall.
Ground broke on the new section of the building Monday afternoon.
The redevelopment will see an elevator installed to make the Vine Place facility wheelchair accessible.
Western Health is a partner in the new centre with a primary health clinic included in the facility. The Western School District is already a partner in the centre with the Homework Haven program and the Department of Education with the Adult Basic Education program.
While most of the programing that happens at the centre doesn't have a monetary cost associated with it, there are expectations and requirements.
"There's no handouts," Fitzgerald said. "While it's free to enter Homework Haven and to participate in the Canadian Tire Jump Start program, in order to benefit from the sports program, you have to give up three days a week to the educational program. You're purchasing it through your commitment and we're finding partners who will reward your commitment."
The Dunfield Park Community Centre's annual general meeting is set for Thursday at 7 p.m. at Ivy Court on Walsh's Road.
A new board of directors is scheduled to be selected at the meeting.
