Old Lyme – A town committee is exploring two new design options for improvements to the boathouse at Hains Park.

Both options call for retaining the facility as storage for boats while upgrading the existing bathrooms outside the facility, according to the town's selectmen.

The Boathouse Hains Park Improvement Committee has been exploring new options after learning last fall that plans to rebuild the existing one-floor boathouse as a two-story facility, with storage space, a fitness area, bathrooms and a changing area, would make it qualify as an educational facility. Compliance with building codes would have required upgrades that would have driven up the project's costs.

Last Thursday, the committee unanimously voted to explore two choices out of five new options presented by an architect, said Selectman Skip Sibley at Monday's Board of Selectmen meeting. The committee had previously voted to allow the architect to draft new design options for an amount not to exceed $7,000.

One option features a “flex space” and possible changing area adjoining the existing bathhouse, he said.

The other option is to install the flex space and changing area within the boathouse. Town Building Official John Flower is checking this week with the state to determine what code modification could be made to allow that option, Sibley said.

The flex space would allow for some of the activities that currently take place in the boathouse, such as watching videos.

First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder said the facility will be available to the entire community. She said some of the feedback the town has received is that people want the facility for the larger community.

The committee is expected to receive cost estimates at a later point.

At a town meeting in the fall, residents had approved allocating $883,000 for the project to rebuild the boathouse and improve Hains Park by Rogers Lake. A state grant would cover $478,000, while town funds would cover $405,000.

k.drelich@theday.com

Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich