Appropriately, the latest addition to the Eureka Springs Community Center was a direct result of a complete community effort.
The community center held an open house and ribbon cutting for its new Highlander Room on Friday, Aug. 18, celebrating the completion of a renovation project made possible by contributions from students, school officials, city employees, members of the community center foundation’s board of directors and local contractors who worked at a discount to finish the project.
The community center also received several anonymous donations from the community, saidAnna Smedley, the center’s executive director.
The Highlander Room is located in what used to be the band room at the old Eureka Springs High School building.
Without the help of local contractors who did their work at a discount, Smedley said the project wouldn’t have been completed so quickly.
“It certainly would have taken us longer,” Smedley said. “And we would have gone way over budget just doing what we did. These are all awesome local businesses that did this.”
Local companies that worked on the project were Memo’s, Shamppo’s Lawn, Summers HVAC, Old Town Electric, Ozark Lock and Key, Tempo Fire and Security, Superior Flooring, Friendly Glass, Hodge Welding and Fencing and Rockin’ W Excavating.
The Eureka Springs High School Skills Class and instructor Jason Hill also donated their time to the project. Hill and the students were recognized at Friday’s open house.
“Those kids did all the demo,” Smedley said. “They did a lot of the carpentry. They poured the concrete pad that our new air conditioning unit is on out front. They were here every week for two months.”
“This is something they can look back and bring their kids back to and be proud of,” Hill said. “This is something that gives them a sense of community, gives them a sense of pride. And I’m sure most of these guys as they get older will come back and use this room or the other facilities and they’re going to want to make sure it’s taken care of. So, guys, I’m grateful for all of the guys in the class and working as hard as you did. I’m sure everybody appreciates your work. I’m proud of you guys and I hope you’re proud of yourselves.”
Students who worked on the project were Aiden Barker, Dakota Brentlinger, Roy Chapin, Riley Chapman, Fuller Cross, James Ham, Sirius Little, Billy Martinez, Carlos Rodriguez, Kolton Smith, Alex Tapia, Leo Tapia andTroy Tharp.
Smedley also thanked the Eureka Springs School District, the school board and Superintendent Bryan Pruitt. The community center foundation initially signed a lease-purchase agreement for the property but the school district ultimately forgave most of the purchase price and allowed the foundation to take ownership of the property.
City officials, including Mayor Butch Berry, city clerk Ida Meyer, building inspector Jacob Coburn and fire marshal James Cowan helped make sure the project complied with the city code and that paperwork was in order.
The foundation board’s facilities committee — chair Jack Moyer, Victor Smith, Debbie Davis, Glenn Crenshaw and Chris Gains — also deserve credit, Smedley said.
“They really acted as the project managers,” Smedley said.
Davis helped secure a $75,000 grant from the Kansas City-based Sunderland Foundation.
“And then there were ethousands and thousands of dollars of private anonymous donations,” Smedley said.
