Construction Around Town: Doling Family Center

A $4.5 million family center with a senior citizens' wing is now under construction at Doling Park. R.E. Smith Construction is the general contractor and Hood-Rich Inc. is the architect for the 44,000-square-foot project. The Doling Family Center occupies about 25,000 square feet, and the senior citizens' wing occupies the remaining 19,000 square feet. According to Springfield-Greene County Park Board Director Dan Kinney, the existing senior center is in a renovated skating rink. The new structure will provide additional room and amenities.

Amenities at the family center include a full basketball court, suspended indoor running track, free-weights area and aerobics room. There also are two community meeting rooms, a kitchen and locker rooms.

The seniors' wing has a large dining area and dance hall. That wing has a stage area and a full commercial kitchen. It also includes a hospitality room and an area for arts and crafts.

The project should be complete in summer 2003. The new center is part of an overall renovation of Doling Park, which will include new tennis courts, Kinney said.