BRUNSWICK

The town’s Parks and Recreation Department will officially begin operating out of its new home at 220 Neptune Drive at Brunswick Landing on Monday.

Although the preschool program has been running at capacity since Sept 6., other extracurricular programs such as youth basketball and tennis, as well as noon basketball and open-gym time, have been delayed because of renovations required to make the space suitable for municipal use.

Existing programs have priority over new, said Parks and Recreation director Tom Farrell. However, he promised town councilors Monday that new activities — such as the walking track — would be instituted soon, now that work in the space is nearing completion.

Painters are refinishing the fieldhouse floor a second time this week, after the initial paint job delaminated three weeks ago.

Workers spent Monday and Tuesday sanding the floor in preparation to paint it a second time, starting today, Farrell said.

Brunswick took possession of the space — described by the U.S. Navy as Building 211 — in July and immediately began upgrades and renovation work on the former fieldhouse.

Neglected by the military for several years during the closure of Brunswick Naval Air Station, the structure’s fascia, rails, ramps and stairs required repainting or repair. Likewise, numerous trees and other vegetation had to be removed because their unchecked growth had begun to damage the exterior siding.

Using $100,000 in Capital Improvement Plan funds allocated by the Town Council, fire alarm and sprinkler systems were upgraded, and an extra layer of drywall installed along the entire length of the central wall’s 19- foot height and 100-foot length to meet current fire code.

Recreation Committee members authorized using Special Revenue funds to pay for repainting the floor and to buy portable bleachers as spectator seating.

New networking cable and servers are being installed that will allow residents to register and pay for recreation programs online, Farrell said. Target date for those systems to be operational is Dec. 1.

Until all of the new systems and activities are running, the department will continue to maintain a presence in the former location at 30 Federal St.

The quonset hut will host its final Midwinter Classic basketball tournament Dec. 17-21, however, because all 32 years of the tournament have been played there.

Conclusion of tourney play will also serve as a send-off for the dilapidated building, Farrell said, with a commemoration ceremony to be held Dec. 22.

jtleonard@timesrecord.com

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