South Windsor Town Council to Discuss Creation of Recreation Center Subcommittee

The South Windsor Town Council will take up the issue of a recreation center once again at its regular meeting on Monday, though under different circumstances than recent discussions.

Specifically, the council is expected to consider a resolution that will create a subcommittee to research the feasibility of, and optional plans for, “both a new Recreation Center, and the potential renovation of an existing municipal building, as well as all costs associated with such suggested project and explore possible funding options.”

The subcommittee, which will comprise no more than 10 members, would be formed pursuant to a request from the town’s Parks & Recreation Commission. The subcommittee would be made up of two Town Council members, two Parks & Recreation Commission members, the Town Manager, the Director of Parks and Recreation and other community members to be assigned by the Park & Recreation Commission.

The resolution cites the results of several surveys from the 1990s and early 2000s that state that an indoor pool or indoor swimming is the No. 1 or 2 most important town investment or activity that residents are looking for in South Windsor.

The words “recreation center” have perhaps taken on a new meaning, after a recent $10.5 million proposal that called for the construction of one or two ice skating rinks, an indoor swimming pool as well as other amenities, that would be paid for by the creation of a 63-20 corporation.

That proposal is no longer under consideration, at least according to several town councilors. The new resolution makes no mention of an ice rink.

But town officials and residents alike have been vocal in the need for additional space at the Charles N. Enes Community Center, which currently houses the Senior Center, the Youth and Family Services Department and the Parks & Recreation Department.

Last summer, Town Councilor Dr. Saud Anwar attempted to add a referendum question to consider expanding the community center. The question did not make it onto the November ballot, though the public building committee was supposed to have been charged to see what renovations could be made to the community center for $1.5 million.

In addition, the swimming community in town has been equally vocal about the need for an indoor pool facility in South Windsor. Both the South Windsor High boys and girls swimming and diving teams practice at the Star Hill Family Health Center in Tolland. The two teams have been self-funded over the last several years and are expected to be included in the Board of Education’s budget this year.