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Friends of Ray Park, city update clubhouse renovation; project cost now about $3.8 million
Summary
Friends of Ray Park presented renovation plans and construction progress for the 100‑year‑old Ray Park Clubhouse. Architect Amanda Jukes and Friends' president Mike Harding said the project was bid in 2023, construction is underway, and total investment is about $3.8 million with roughly 20% raised privately.
Friends of Ray Park updated the Terre Haute City Council on plans and progress to restore the Ray Park Clubhouse, a roughly 100‑year‑old facility, and outlined fundraising and construction status. Mike Harding, president of Friends of Ray Park, and Amanda Jukes, project architect with Sanders and Associates, described the project scope, timeline and funding at the Sept. 11 meeting.
The Friends group has raised about $825,000 in private funds, including roughly $140,000 earmarked for a First Tee program, Harding said. Amanda Jukes said the project originally was bid at about $3.4 million, with an additional $400,000 for a permanent restroom and pro‑shop building; unforeseen change orders uncovered during renovation work have increased the total investment to about $3.8 million. Friends of Ray Park have provided roughly 20% of that total in private fundraising, the presenters said.
Jukes said the renovation uses original 1920s plans from a local firm (Johnson, Miller, Miller & Yeager) where available and is intended to preserve historic elements while modernizing the building for year‑round community use. The scope includes structural repairs, removal and reconstruction of failing terraces, modern HVAC and lighting, moving public spaces out of the basement to the main floor (restrooms, kitchen/bar, community space) and converting the former basement to storage and utilities. Cart storage will be placed under the building and a new pro‑shop building and restroom building were constructed to allow continued operation during renovation.
Construction and partners: the project moved to construction documents and was bid in February 2023; Hannah Construction is the general contractor, and engineers and consultants include Boy Engineering and Bryant Engineering. Presenters said work underway includes terrace demolition, banquet‑hall interior stripping for restoration, drywall in the new restrooms and foundation work for exterior cart storage.
Community benefits and programming: Harding and Jukes described the clubhouse as intended for multi‑sport and community use (golf, tennis, pickleball, running and programming with nearby institutions such as Terre Haute South High School and Westminster Village). They said modernization will enable year‑round programming, increase the parks department's revenue opportunities through food and beverage sales and rentals, and support partnerships with local schools and health providers.
Funding and stewardship: speakers asked that the city keep Friends of Ray Park “in the loop” and discussed establishing a repair and replacement reserve or private endowment to maintain the building after restoration. Earl Elliot, described as the treasurer for Friends of Ray Park and a past city council member, said the organization would monitor maintenance and recommend a funded reserve to avoid future deterioration.
No formal council action was taken; the presentation was informational and the presenters thanked the council for previously budgeting funds for a 2026 historic resources survey referenced in the discussion of future preservation planning.
