“PARC Moves Forward” @ The Penn Theatre, Mon, Jan 27 at 7:00 pm

You’re Invited.  All are Welcome

The Central Middle School project is gaining steam and moving forward. Get the latest up-to-date information on the PARC project.

We Are One Plymouth

BACKGROUND

PARC: A Once In A Lifetime Opportunity

After nearly a century of serving the greater Plymouth community, Central Middle School will close its doors at the end of the 2014 - 15 school year. This historic building’s future, along with the property that surrounds it, will be uncertain unless we, as a community, join together to preserve what has been and could continue to be a focal point for education, the arts and recreation. Let us seize this “Once In A Lifetime Opportunity” and ensure that Central will serve the Greater Plymouth Community for the next century to come.

The Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex (PARC) Committee, a collaborative team of community leaders, policymakers, sports teams, nonprofits, businesses, and residents, has been studying the feasibility of, and assessing community support for, the conversion of Central Middle School and the 18 acres on which it sits, into an arts and recreation complex. In an effort to provide an opportunity for public input, the PARC committee has conducted a series of informative community forums. These gatherings have been met with an overwhelming amount of broad-based, community support for such a project.

The demand for the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex is evident. Without the PARC, many sports organizations and activities that utilize the existing facilities and call the athletic fields home will be in jeopardy. Steelers Football, Cruisers Swim Team, OLGC Football, Kona Running Team, various youth programs and, of course, The Miracle League of Plymouth, a program and facility known throughout the region, all may be faced with the challenge of relocating. The PARC would provide enhanced facilities for these groups to continue their activities long into the future, as well as provide for the expansion and growth of new programs. Seniors and teens have long been under served and deserve a comfortable and engaging place to gather--a place where they feel safe and connected with others. In addition, The Plymouth-Canton Public School System, as well as local private, parochial and charter schools are all in need of additional athletic, arts, exhibition, and performance facilities. They will be able to utilize this facility to meet those needs.

The PARC will provide a local opportunity for fun, fitness, recreation and competition. Families will be able to spend an afternoon at the pool, play a game of tennis or attend one of the many available programs. The fitness center will offer access to a variety of equipment and classes designed to accommodate those just beginning, to seniors looking to stay active, to individuals training for an upcoming race, competition or event. The gymnasium will host instructional classes, provide a place for local competitions and court time for basketball & volleyball. Additional amenities will be provided based upon community input, compatibility with existing offerings found in the community and overall viability.

As a cultural destination for the greater Plymouth community, the PARC will offer residents opportunities to experience music, theater and dance performances, visual art exhibits and participate in art education. It will bring a focus to the region and foster partnerships with numerous arts and nonprofit organizations, such as the Community Band, the Plymouth Community Arts Council and the Michigan Philharmonic, which will seek to relocate their headquarters to the PARC.

Situated between Downtown Plymouth and Old Village, the PARC will allow residents of the greater Plymouth community the opportunity to utilize the ample on-site parking, attend a performance, game, class

or maybe even Friday night “Music in the PARC” during the winter months, and then enjoy a meal at a local restaurant or café, or shop at one of the many nearby businesses. The PARC will be the perfect

compliment to an already vibrant downtown community, which includes such amenities as Kellogg Park, the Penn Theater, the Historical Museum, and the Plymouth District Library, to name a few.

Many professionals have donated their time and effort to develop the design, repurposing strategies, financial plans and operation projections associated with such a project. Based on preliminary professional assessments, it is anticipated that, with the participation from both Plymouth Township and the City of Plymouth, the project could be funded with less than a one mil tax on property. User fees would then be used as the primary funding source for ongoing operations. In addition, the original Plymouth High School portion of Central Middle School could be saved and repurposed.

This is an opportunity for Plymouth Township and the City of Plymouth to develop this existing asset into a complex that would serve to promote the health and well being of all residents within the community, from individuals to families, toddlers to seniors, athletes to artisans, all the while increasing the overall quality of life for the greater Plymouth community.

The PARC Steering Committee has set a four-year timetable for the completion and opening of the complex. Objectives include getting commitments of $5.0 million in private funding and developing a solid business plan before going to voters for a millage approval in November 2015.

Financial support for this project represents an opportunity to invest in the greater Plymouth community. Our citizens deserve an opportunity to participate in fine art, athletics and recreational activities within our community. To squander this opportunity to develop an arts and recreation facility in an ideal location, at the heart of our community, would be a tragedy. Plymouth is a great community. Those before us did their part. Now is the time to seize this “Once In A Lifetime Opportunity”. Join us in making this dream a reality.