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Published: January 5, 2008
ELFERS, Fla. - ELFERS, Fla. - The renovated Grove Park Community Center should reopen soon, but vandals and graffiti artists have struck the construction site, county officials say.
After nearly a year of construction, the expanded center could get clearance to open its doors to the public once again by the end of January, according to Martha S. Campbell, administrative services manager for the Pasco County Parks and Recreation Department.
"We are already experiencing vandalism and graffiti, which is a shame because this building (and) facility is a real nice amenity for the area," Campbell said Wednesday.
The center, at 4145 Fairford Drive, includes a large swimming pool that was also closed for much of 2007.
With the reopening looming, the county is searching for volunteers from the Grove Park neighborhood to take care of the renovated facility, Campbell said. Call the main office of the parks department at 813-929-1260.
The construction project is about ready to wrap up, Campbell reports.
"We are waiting for utilities clearance on the lift station and anticipate approval by the end of this week, as well as the CO," she said, referring to the renovated building's certificate of occupancy.
"Hopefully, we'll have all other minor issues resolved in time to open by the end of the month," Campbell said.
The makeover project officially launched on Jan. 31, 2007, when the contractor met with county officials. Officials' hopes of reopening the pool had evaporated by late August or early September.
Grove Park center gained an additional 800 square feet, enlarging its indoor space by about one-third. The existing building got some renovations, too.
The project replaced the community center's septic tank system with a hookup to the county waste-water system.
The cost of the project was $550,000.
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