New pins setters due in April; committee plans partial operations during installation

The Sports Pavilion’s committee heard a timeline Feb. 12 for replacing its bowling pinsetters, with new equipment expected to begin arriving April 28 and unhooking of the old machines slated to start April 18–19.

Gary, the sports pavilion manager, told the committee the facility has sold its old machines to a buyer in New Hampshire (Striker East) for $66,000 and that Brunswick will lead the uninstallation and installation. He said a project meeting with Brunswick project managers is scheduled for Feb. 24 and will clarify how much of the facility can remain open during the work.

“We will start unhooking April 18th and getting the old machines out,” Gary said, adding that the installations will arrive in several containers and that logistics will determine whether half the bowling center, the billiard room and Lizard Acres can remain open. He emphasized resident safety as the priority and said staff will try to keep safe pathways so residents do not have to walk through construction equipment.

The committee discussed the trade-offs of partial operation and closure. Gary said the contractor’s access point will likely be the Pavilion Grill entrance and that he has coordinated with the Grill to try to keep it open, but he cautioned he cannot yet guarantee that the building will not be closed at times.

The committee expects an operational update after the Feb. 24 meeting with the installer; Gary said he will report back at the next sports committee meeting and that staff will publish specifics once the schedule and space needs are firmed up.