Recreation stressed as plans for center brew at California meeting
CALIFORNIA – Recreation in the borough is the topic of concern for a group, spearheaded by state Rep. Peter Daley, that is considering plans for a community and recreation center. “On the pecking list, recreation has been last (in California), but I’m bringing it to the forefront,” Mayor Gerald “Galvie” Gardner said. “We have no recreation here, but I’m making recreation for families, adults and children my number one priority.”
According to Daley (D-California), 14 people, including several borough council members, attended an early morning meeting Saturday at the California Municipal Building to discuss the proposed recreation center.
Daley said everyone in attendance was excited about the project and “totally supportive.”
He said three committees were formed, with Ken Lang to chair the site committee; Margie McKinley, finance/funding; and Councilwoman Amelia Mitchell, design.
According to Gardner, councilmen Arthur Harris and Robert Sepesy also attended the meeting.
Daley said the center would house a basketball court, swimming pool, exercise room, aerobics area and meeting rooms. He said he plans to include California University of Pennsylvania as a partner and also “tie in the parks and recreation people.”
“It will be more like a wellness center. That’s a little different than an exercise facility. This will be for everybody from the cradle to the grave,” Daley said.
Gardner said Daley is spearheading the project, while he will serve as chairman.
“Daley and I started talking about this only two months ago. He’s stepping forward and saying we have to do something in California,” Gardner said. “If this happens, California will owe him a lot of thanks.”
Gardner said the group will seek federal and state money as well as local contributions to make the proposed center a reality.
“We believe if we stay committed, we can see this happen,” he said. “It’s not something that will happen this year, but it may happen the year after.”
Gardner cited several projects in the California area, including the Mon/Fayette Expressway, a proposed hotel and the expansion of the Center in the Woods, and he would like to see a new recreation center among them.
“There’s a lot of things being looked at in California by outsiders. We need this,” Gardner said. “This is not something that comes up and you let die. This is something we are going to push.”
Gardner said the group has scheduled another meeting, to discuss strategy to move forward with plans, for 8 a.m. Saturday, June 29, in the California Municipal Building.