Work to begin soon to expand senior centers
Expansion projects at the first two MAPS 3 senior health and wellness centers are expected to be completed next year.
Both projects at Healthy Living's center on N Rockwell Avenue and the Pete White center on S Walker Avenue include expanded locker rooms.
Once the centers opened, MAPS 3 advisory boards, the city's operating partners and architects found the centers' popularity — especially usage of the pools—resulted in crowded locker and changing rooms.
A $ 4.5 million expansion and renovation at the Healthy Living center includes more than 1,500 square feet of new locker and shower space. Renovations of theo riginal locker rooms will expand women' s seating, private changing rooms and showers.
The 13,700- square-foot expansion project includes a 7,200-square-foot gym with pickleball courts.
The center is adding 101 parking spaces.
Construction bids are due in December, with plans to open the new spaces around Christmas 2021. The project currently is about $500,000 under budget.
At t he Pete White center in Capitol Hill, designers are providing 3,570 square feet of renovated and expanded locker facilities and restrooms.
The $750,000 project includes a 1,320-square-foot addition.
Women' s facilities will undergo significant expansion.
Construction bids will be due in October for the Pete White center.
Architects say the new and renovated facilities should be ready for the public in July.
The third and fourth MAPS 3 senior health and wellness centers are being designed now and will be built in northeast and southwest Oklahoma City.
MAPS 4 includes funding for a fifth center.