Rec center under review





VISION—An artist’s rendering shows the building’s modern lines.

VISION—An artist’s rendering shows the building’s modern lines.

The new Mae Boyar Community Center in Oak Park was approved last October, but not all residents were satisfied with the plan and some have convinced the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District—the agency responsible for the new building—that design changes should be made.

The $2.4-million center will replace the park’s 50-year-old building. It boasts modern amenities yet maintains a rustic flair, said Francisco Behr of Thousand Oaks, the architect.

But some spoke against the plan at a Jan. 12 Oak Park Committee meeting. The committee provides recommendations about local parks to the Rancho Simi park district. At a Rancho Simi board meeting Jan. 19, the critics returned.

Carolyn Cass-Barton, a 38- year Oak Park resident, called Mae Boyar a “heritage park” and said the new center should reflect the ranch-style homes that were built at the same time as the park.

“It’s way too modern,” said Cass-Barton, who commented on the building’s highly sloped roof and Japanese pagoda-like design elements.

“There’s nothing wrong with the design, but it doesn’t fit on the site,” Cass-Barton said.

She complained that a survey distributed to residents asking about design features was never received by the residents of old Oak Park who live near Mae Boyar.

Wayne Nakaoka, director of planning and maintenance for the park district, said 1,300 surveys were distributed via email to Oak Park residents. But the emails on file, Oak Park Committee member Janna Orkney said, were skewed to younger families with children. Older residents, many of whom live near Mae Boyar Park, were underrepresented, she said.

Orkney said of the 65 people who responded to the survey, most asked for expanded programs, and the park district may have misinterpreted that to mean an expanded community center.

Behr told The Acorn that the community center is designed as a one-story building but appears larger because the main activity and event room features a high ceiling. The windows of that room face north, overlooking the playground in the park. The total height of the building is 25 feet.

“One side of the building is 10 feet,” he said.

Behr was receptive to the changes suggested by Cass- Barton and others. The wood elements of the design, he said, have far more detail than was shown in the renderings. The rafter tails on the roof will be redesigned to appear more rustic, and other design tweaks will incorporate natural elements that will fit better in the neighborhood.

“We’re already on our way there,” Behr said.

Oak Park Committee member James Ebert agreed that more traditional elements were needed in the community center design. He said Behr did a great job trying to balance various design elements with functionality and cost considerations.

Ultimately the park district will decide on the final look of the new center, but Ebert said he trusts the architects and is not too concerned.

“We feel that these are the most amazing people in the world of architecture,” he said. “They can basically build anything. There’s nothing that limits them (and) they don’t have any agenda.”

Ebert said Behr will design a building that reflects what people want.

“I have full faith that they will accept the request to consider modifications,” Ebert said.

There is no timetable yet for approval and start of construction, Ebert said.

IN A NUTSHELL

The new, 4,000-squarefoot community center at Mae Boyar Park will include a 2,000-square-foot multipurpose room, a warming kitchen with commercial-grade equipment and an enclosed storage area that will be accessible from inside and outside the building.

The bathrooms have been designed for security, with visibility from both the street and the parking lot. A 1,000-squarefoot outdoor covered barbecue area has been designed for use by small parties or as an outdoor classroom.

Other features of the building include an administrative office, a waiting area and a banquet room that would accommodate 100 people.

A mini-amphitheater has been incorporated into the plan on the west side of the building. The sloped roof has been designed to keep window glare on all sides to a minimum.

Most of the heritage trees at the park have been saved.


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