Richwood Community Center
A community center wishes to finalize renovations of its building, which was damaged during floods, so that it can engage community members with programming and events and be a central piece in developing a stronger community. The improvements to the building will ensure equitable access to community groups for many different types of events, and a permanent location for a much-needed senior center.
Why It Matters
When analyzing Richwood’s needs through community engagement meetings, the need for a community center has always been one of the important topics. The community needs this center to provide a location where all can gather and celebrate the many festivities conducted throughout the year.
The Impact
“Our community lost our two schools, Richwood High School and Richwood Middle School, to the flood of 2016,” wrote project nominator Mary Jane Williams, a former teacher and current director of the Richwood Heritage Center. “For years, the three cafeterias and one auditorium of these schools had been used for community activities, while working around school activities. The replacement plan for our schools is to consolidate all three into one building (K-12). The new plans provide significantly less space for both cafeteria and auditorium. The total space with the consolidated cafeteria will be less than the three cafeterias and auditorium previously provided and will not be complete for four to five years. The loss of the schools has greatly affected community events and access by senior citizens to facilities to adequately meet their needs."
We have gotten by with temporary facilities but have had to cancel or downsize many activities. But we are a community that bounces back. This project – ‘Coming Together at the Richwood Community Center’ – is what we need to move forward.
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