BOMA guest view
Pinchok writes about future Town community center; public input meeting Aug. 20
Last week, we announced that the Town is purchasing the former Faith Lutheran Church on
Jamestowne Boulevard to be used as a community center and senior center. Knox County is partnering with us in this endeavor by funding the renovations and sharing operating expenses.
When the work is complete, the upper level will be the Farragut community center and the lower level will be a new Knox County senior center. Some amenities, like a gymnasium and a commercial kitchen, will be shared.
This partnership means the Town will finally have a long-awaited community center. Abundant classroom space will give us the opportunity to get creative with class offerings, and the gym with a large stage is ideal for activities like pickleball, basketball and theatrical productions.
The former sanctuary will be a flexible space that can accommodate weddings, family reunions and parties. These areas will be available for rent, giving the Town much-needed affordable event space.
Many are already expressing excitement over these new opportunities and want to know when the community center will open.
While I wish I could say it will happen soon, the building requires numerous renovations to convert it to a public space and make it ADA accessible, and that could take up to a year.
Acquiring an additional 22,000 square feet of space will yield both opportunities and challenges to our Parks & Leisure Services department, so there will be a learning curve as we expand programming. Right now, we can dream and plan.
If you have ideas about programming or how to best use this new facility, mark your calendar for a public meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 20, at Town Hall.
An online survey will also be available; check townoffarragut.org in the coming weeks for more information about the survey.
The new community center will be a gathering site – a place to learn, recreate and celebrate. Farragut residents will also enjoy the new senior center’s convenient location and abundant parking. I’m proud and excited to be part of the board that helped make this dream a reality.
