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One of Wellington's biggest landmarks has just received a big boost. The Memorial Auditorium at 208 N. Washington Ave. has been awarded $750,000.
"Obviously we need to do some upgrades to the memorial auditorium," said John Tracy, Memorial Auditorium Advisory Board member. "We applied for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)." The grant itself was for the amount of $375,000. Matching that amount is the Mr. and Mrs. Frank Horton Trust Fund, getting the total to $750k. The grant money will be used to make the auditorium compliant with the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA).
"The concourse will be raised up so it's level with the outside of the building," Tracy explained. "They're supposedly going to put in an elevator to the second floor there in the front lobby." ADA accessible restrooms, a stare lift and a wheelchair ramp are all on the list of improvements. Improvements that the auditorium board has been ambitious about completing.
"This Memorial Auditorium Advisory Board has been very active, very interested, and very supportive of this movement," said Wellington City Manger, Gus Collins. "We're very excited about what this creates as an opportunity for us." ADA compliancy is something the facility has needed for quite some time.
"The auditorium was built in 1922, it was the focal point of the community for many years," Tracy said. "I believe during the early 70's, they just locked the doors and it wasn't used, it was in a great state of disrepair." In 1980, Tracy said citizens voted for a million dollar renovation of the building. Officials are hopeful the venue can be used for more events and gatherings with news of the grant money.
"To make it compliant with ADA is the first step," Collins said. The City has a meeting scheduled with the State on Feb. 15. The meeting will outline how the grant money can be used, and when the improvements can start being made.
"We'll know more after that meeting," Collins said. Just under 40 applicants applied for the grant, 16 grants were issued, the Memorial Auditorium grant was number three of the 16. Along with the CDBG, the advisory board is going after another grant.
"We do have another one that we've applied for, called the Heritage Trust Fund Grant," Tracy said. "I believe it's going to be awarded the tenth of this month." If awarded, the grant will go to repairing windows and doors of the auditorium. The Wellington Rec Center (WRC) utilizes the auditorium for it's fitness center and other activities, adding to the accessibility of the facility will give more people an opportunity to participate.
"You want to be able to serve people of all needs," said Cody White, WRC Director. "I think this is the right step in getting that accomplished." Officials are looking forward to the future of the histoic structure.
"The auditorium hasn't quite been used up to it's potential the last few years," Tracy continued. "This will be the start of that, becoming ADA compliant, opening the doors for it to be used a little bit more."
One of Wellington's biggest landmarks has just received a big boost. The Memorial Auditorium at 208 N. Washington Ave. has been awarded $750,000.
"Obviously we need to do some upgrades to the memorial auditorium," said John Tracy, Memorial Auditorium Advisory Board member. "We applied for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)." The grant itself was for the amount of $375,000. Matching that amount is the Mr. and Mrs. Frank Horton Trust Fund, getting the total to $750k. The grant money will be used to make the auditorium compliant with the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA).
"The concourse will be raised up so it's level with the outside of the building," Tracy explained. "They're supposedly going to put in an elevator to the second floor there in the front lobby." ADA accessible restrooms, a stare lift and a wheelchair ramp are all on the list of improvements. Improvements that the auditorium board has been ambitious about completing.
"This Memorial Auditorium Advisory Board has been very active, very interested, and very supportive of this movement," said Wellington City Manger, Gus Collins. "We're very excited about what this creates as an opportunity for us." ADA compliancy is something the facility has needed for quite some time.
"The auditorium was built in 1922, it was the focal point of the community for many years," Tracy said. "I believe during the early 70's, they just locked the doors and it wasn't used, it was in a great state of disrepair." In 1980, Tracy said citizens voted for a million dollar renovation of the building. Officials are hopeful the venue can be used for more events and gatherings with news of the grant money.
"To make it compliant with ADA is the first step," Collins said. The City has a meeting scheduled with the State on Feb. 15. The meeting will outline how the grant money can be used, and when the improvements can start being made.
"We'll know more after that meeting," Collins said. Just under 40 applicants applied for the grant, 16 grants were issued, the Memorial Auditorium grant was number three of the 16. Along with the CDBG, the advisory board is going after another grant.
"We do have another one that we've applied for, called the Heritage Trust Fund Grant," Tracy said. "I believe it's going to be awarded the tenth of this month." If awarded, the grant will go to repairing windows and doors of the auditorium. The Wellington Rec Center (WRC) utilizes the auditorium for it's fitness center and other activities, adding to the accessibility of the facility will give more people an opportunity to participate.
"You want to be able to serve people of all needs," said Cody White, WRC Director. "I think this is the right step in getting that accomplished." Officials are looking forward to the future of the histoic structure.
"The auditorium hasn't quite been used up to it's potential the last few years," Tracy continued. "This will be the start of that, becoming ADA compliant, opening the doors for it to be used a little bit more."
