New preliminary upgrades for the Pell City Civic Center were presented to the City Council at their regular meeting on Monday, May 22.

Sean Whitt of Williams Blackstock Architects, which was the design firm behind the remodeling of the new Pell City Library, presented multiple design options and floor plans to renovate the existing Civic Center. 

“We would like to make this a destination,” Whitt said to the council. “To put that feeling back into the facility and make it fun for families and kids.” 

New proposed layouts would include updates and repairs to existing rooms. Floor plans included a newly designed reception area, creating an open view of the basketball court by installing glass. Each separate design proposed included different options of upgraded facilities and activities.

The first option included a game room with table tennis and other activities, while the second option presented turned an existing room into two racquetball courts. Both included updates to the weight lifting room, and new finishes throughout the facility.

Currently, the Civic Center does not have adequate toilet facilities, so the firm would increase the plumbing count, installing more restrooms and locker rooms. 

“We can give it the heart and soul that people remember from their childhood,” Whitt stated.

A budget of $750,000 has been set for the improvements to the Pell City Civic Center, including other proposals of an updated heating and air conditioning unit, additional parking options, and expansion of the tennis program. The City has also applied for an LWCF Grant that would give additional matching funds in the amount of $150,000 toward the improvements to the tennis program.    

“We’ve shown what this firm (Williams Blackstock Architects) can do with a similar space through the remodeling of the library,” Brian Muenger, Pell City City Manager stated. “I look forward to what we can do with this space.”

Plans have not yet been approved and are still in the preliminary stages. The city manager requested that the city council look at the options presented, and any other additions or updates that may need to be considered for the Civic Center, and for Williams Blackstock Architects to present the cost options for each proposal.

“The purpose of the presentation was to show some general concepts to the Council for what could be done within the existing footprint of the building, and to gain authorization to enter into the engineering/design phase of the project,” Muenger said. “A detailed exploration of the building will help clarify what is feasible within our budget.”

The Pell City Parks and Recreation Department also presented a scope of work from Dynamic Outdoor Services to improve the infields of the baseball and softball complexes. Additional clay and soil will be used to prepare the field for play during season and reduce missed opportunities for play due to  poor field conditions. 

Grass would be removed from sections of the infield and be reseeded on bare spots on the outside of the fields. Fields would also be graded to ensure proper drainage.

Work proposed would begin after the current baseball and softball season ends, and after Fourth of July events.