Oak Park has better news on its community center




Oak Park has better news
on its community center


Oak Park officials have a friendly wager in place. They’re trying to determine which building will be finished first in the community; the problem-plagued Oak Park Library, which began to be built in July 2000, or the Oak Park Community Center and Gardens, which started in April of this year.


They’re betting it’s the community center.


While construction remains stalled at the library due to a contractor default–the project was supposed to be finished a year ago–the 11,000 square-foot community center is proceeding at full speed.


Officials from the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District toured the $3 million construction project on Kanan Road last week and came away impressed.


The job is 40 percent complete and should be finished next March, according to the officials.


G-2000 of Agoura Hills is the contractor.


"This is going to be a nice facility when it’s finished," said Gene Hostetler, chairperson for the Rancho Simi board of directors. "We’ve seen the plans all along, but when you get out and see it, it’s beautiful."


The main building will house a multipurpose room, recreation room and full kitchen with catering amenities. A bridge crossing a pond will connect the building to a 1,100 square-foot nature center and botanical gardens nearby. Also located on the three-acre site will be a separate wedding pavilion.


"During the weddings, the water helps buffer the sound of Kanan Road," Hostetler said.


The community center is located next to Oak Canyon Community Park, which opened to the public in 1997.


"When it’s all finished, it should be award-winning," said Kent Behringer, a MAC member. "It’s a real triumph."


In addition to community meetings, weddings and other social events, the facility will serve as headquarters to the dozens of park district programs, which include educational, athletic, and arts and crafts events.


Director Jo Lassak currently runs the Rancho Simi programs out of a temporary site at Red Oak Elementary School in Oak Park.


"We’ll have facilities for our programs finally," Lassak said. "We’re really lacking now."


Similar to the library, the community center has experienced its share of setbacks.


The project was delayed nearly a year because of high construction bids. When work finally began last February, workers discovered that the Kanan Road site wasn’t surveyed properly and another month was lost.


The library, located less than a mile away at Oak Park High School, encountered delays because of its non-performing contractor.


––John Loesing



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