Former Fitch Middle School will become future Groton Community Center
Groton — Groton will move its Parks and Recreation programs from the former William Seely School to the former Fitch Middle School on July 1, and open a community center there.
“We feel like identifying this building (as a community center) demonstrates that the community is committed to quality of place, and we think that message will resonate with businesses and people as they consider whether to settle in Groton,” Parks and Recreation Director Mark Berry said.
The former middle school's central location next to Town Hall and proximity to Groton Public Library, Poquonnock Plains Park, Sutton Park and Bluff Point State Park make the site an ideal spot, Berry said.
“Our goal is to create a thriving hub of recreational activity by capitalizing on the building’s location near parks,” he said.
More than 3,500 people participated in programs at William Seely School last year, or about 35 percent of the total who took programs through the department. The school has served as the primary location for recreation programs for about 15 years, but the town wants to make the property available for development.
The department is seeking the public’s help in naming the future community center, and has posted an online survey asking for ideas at bit.ly/GTcenter. The link will remain open until Feb. 23.
Berry said staff will review the suggested names, pick several finalists and then post a second survey asking residents to choose a favorite. The department then will forward the finalists and survey results to the Town Council, he said.
Contractors and town staff meanwhile are fixing up the space. Park staff are prepping walls for painting and a contractor is bringing the space up to code, upgrading bathrooms and locker rooms to make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Parks and Recreation Department sought $600,000 in capital improvement money last year to bring the school up to code, but the town approved $350,000. Staff used the money to install a fire protection system and replace the fire alarm system. This fiscal year, the department received $300,000 in capital money to complete work.
The future community center would use the gymnasium and B and C wings of the school, including the cafeteria and several classrooms. Visitors would enter the center through doors adjacent to the cafeteria and to the right of the two-story main entrance. The community center entrance would be modified to create an enclosed area and second set of double doors before visitors enter the main building, Berry said.
Parks and Recreation staff will handle the task of moving programs and equipment from Seely School to the center, with support from the Department of Public Works, Berry said.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
