Newly remodeled locker rooms unveiled at PPC

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Earlier this winter, the Perry Park Center was temporarily shut down for a week in February to finish a remodeling project.

Thursday, Feb. 25, was an opportunity to check out the renovation and updates as the Perryville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting.

"It's a proud moment for Perryville and the Perry Park Center," said Perryville Ward 2 Alderman Doug Martin. "If you haven't seen it yet, I would invite anyone to come down and check out the renovations to the bathrooms and the facilities. It's a huge upgrade."

The improvements, from "start to fruition" have been in the works for about two years, according to Martin.

"I know the people who have used it or seen it in the last week, the regular patrons, are very excited about it, they're very happy with the changes," Martin said.

Frequent visitors have likely been aware of the changes for a few weeks.

"We remodeled the locker rooms," said Perryville Director of Parks and Recreation Jim Cadwell. "Before there was just some changing stalls, kind of like a dressing room like at a department store."

An open shower area in both the men's and women's locker rooms previously had six showerheads. That's been replaced with a more modern set-up that is probably viewed as more family-friendly.

"What we've done is where the showers used to be, we made those into family changing rooms," Cadwell said. "The individual changing stalls we've converted to private showers."

Users now will be able to shower and change in complete privacy.

The Perry Park Center was constructed in 1999 and the locker room changes are just part of keeping the facility up-to-date.

"We're always trying to make improvements," Cadwell said. "It just needed an upgrade. If anybody has ever redone their bath, they get it."

The more open shower, Cadwell said, is not as common anymore.

"People don't really like that," Cadwell said.

The remodeled areas provide more privacy.

Family dressing rooms, Cadwell said, are a real "game changer."

"We've never had that before," he said. "If you had a mom or dad with little kids, how do you change clothes in a locker room if they're opposite sex. We've had parents with adult children, maybe with disability or something and need help. The family changing rooms include a private shower, bathroom, stool and sink."

There also were two showerheads installed by the baby pool for users to rinse off prior to getting into the pool.

While regular users may have been aware of the changes earlier, the Feb. 25 Chamber event was an opportunity to make the the local business community aware of the updates.

"We did a soft opening Feb. 15," Cadwell said.

Zoeller Construction of Perryville was the contractor for the Park Center project. The bid for the approved work was $293,000.

Additional more long-term updates for the Park Center are on the way, according to Cadwell.

"We have a capital improvement plan and there are some things further out but this next year there are a few maintenance issues," Cadwell said.

The replacement of the floors at the PPC is scheduled for 2022, Cadwell noted.