Fort Myers Beach plans Bay Oaks rec center reopening June 2; fitness equipment delayed until July
Loading...
Summary
Town staff told the Bay Oaks advisory board the recreation center will reopen the week of June 2 with new court flooring, a rebuilt front desk and other repairs; fitness equipment delivery is delayed to the week of July 6 and inspections must pass before a public announcement.
The Bay Oaks Recreational Center in Fort Myers Beach is scheduled to reopen the week of June 2, with new gym court flooring, a rebuilt front desk and other repairs completed or near completion, Parks and Art Manager Neil Mathis told the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus Advisory Board on Wednesday.
The reopening matters because summer programming begins the week after the planned reopening and the facility has been operating out of trailers and the library since hurricane-related closures. Restoring on-island recreation services affects after-school care, summer camp and community activities.
Mathis said crews finished the final painting for the main gym basketball court this week and applied a durable urethane finish that extends about 3 inches up the walls. The court now includes color-coded lines for basketball, pickleball and volleyball. He said the new front desk was built and punch-list cleaning and touch-ups are being completed. "It looks really, really good," Mathis said of the work.
Staff reported additional repairs and upgrades completed or underway: a contractor repaired the bridge to the rec center using marine-grade plastic 2x4s after equipment damage; BNI Contractors completed a water service-line project that restored multiple lines and extended service to a new outdoor bottle-filler and fountain; Sofia Quartz completed pickleball line painting on tennis court No. 1 and left paint for future touch-ups; rubber matting for the strength and cardio rooms has been delivered; and Fire Pro will recertify fire extinguishers next week. The facility's automated external defibrillator (AED) was sent out for service and a loaner unit is in place.
Mathis said staffing and equipment remain constraints. He told the board that new fitness equipment originally scheduled for delivery sooner will now arrive the week of July 6. "That's not gonna be delivered until the week of July 6," he said. Despite that delay, staff continue to plan for limited public access at the rec center starting the week of June 2 so programs can prepare ahead of summer camp, which begins June 9. Mathis said summer camp registrations average about 20 children per week across nine weeks.
Planned initial hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; weekend hours will depend on staffing and demand. Mathis and board members said janitorial services will walk the facility next week for initial supply orders and training, and that building, plumbing and fire inspections must be completed before a public announcement. Memberships were paused during the closure and staff said they have information needed to resolve prorated accounts.
Board members asked about scheduling classes and open gym time during summer programs; Mathis said instructors and contractors have been contacted and some classes may resume before the formal grand opening. He said the advisory board will delay a grand-opening celebration until the new fitness equipment arrives, likely in July.
The board approved the April 16 meeting minutes during the session and kept the rec center reopening and related fee-schedule review on future agendas. Next Bay Oaks advisory board meeting is scheduled for June 18.
