For more than 13 years, the “card room” in Prairie Lodge has given new meaning to the term, “multi-purpose.”
Located between the fitness center and library, this facility is arguably the most-used space among all of Sun City’s indoor facilities. All of the card-playing charter clubs – bridge, cribbage, canasta, euchre, triple play, pinochle, skip bo — performing arts group, special interest and ethnic clubs, and CAM staffers, use this room. Staff personnel turn the room over several times each day as one group leaves and another comes in. More than a dozen clubs use the storage spaces for their equipment and materials.
Get ready, Sun City, this popular room is going to get a facelift, starting either this December or early in 2015. It will last for several months. It will lead to significant, temporary relocations for the above-named clubs and groups, and advanced planning will be required by CAM and the clubs.
The association board of directors, at its quarterly meeting on Oct. 22, approved a $3,565 expense for project design by KDI of Geneva, IL. The staff currently is seeking bids from vendors for the actual work.
“We have to get the bids, process them, go to committees, and then back to the board for approval of labor and materials costs,” said Lauren Lee, executive director. “I expect the work to actually start early next year.”
A total of $10,000 has been budgeted by CAM for this project.
Included are removal of the carpeting and replacing it with wood flooring, painting of the walls and cabinets, and installation of new furniture. New chairs will have wheels to minimize wear and tear on the proposed new vinyl plank flooring.
This is the final phase of a two-year upgrade of the lodge. New carpeting has been laid throughout the facility, the walls of common interior areas have been painted, the fitness center has been spiffed up, and facilities in Drendel Hall have been upgraded.
The other part of the final phase – artwork – was tabled by the board at the Oct. 22 meeting. The board considered spending $4,600 for artwork design and planning by KDI, but tabled the proposal after questions were raised by some residents and board members about the planned participation by a committee of Sun City’s Pencil and Palette Club.
