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®CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> Councilmember Davis arrived back at the meeting at 4:23 p.m. <br /> Update- Charles Black Center, Aaron Perri-Venues, Parks & Arts <br /> Mr. Perri stated, I will be rather brief. It is a busy week for our Department. The crediting agency <br /> for the National Recreation and Parks Association is in town this week. We are hosting them.They <br /> will be in and out of our facilities and parks and we hope to be reaccredited. Less than two percent <br /> (2%)of agencies in the country achieve that accreditation.Just last week,also,there are few things <br /> that happened that I would like to update you all on. Last week the Park Board signed a renewal <br /> of the public-private partnership with the Potawatomi Zoological Society. That is a fifteen (15) <br /> year agreement starting January 1St, 2019 but we resigned that in advance of their reaccreditation <br /> so they wanted that paperwork in place. With that there will be more opportunities to explore <br /> capital investments and that will be discussed more during the budget season. I also invite you all <br /> to the National Recreation and Parks Association Annual Conference. It is actually in Indianapolis <br /> this year. Close to 10,000 people from around the Country attend and it is nearby. It is usually <br /> somewhere pretty far away. <br /> Mr. Perri continued, The Council asked for some updates on the Charles Black Center. What you <br /> see (referencing a presentation available in the City Clerk's Office) here is the new logo. We got <br /> some input from some of the users and we talked about the different colors and style. We dropped <br /> the Sr. with permission from the family of Charles Black because it confused people thinking it <br /> was for seniors only. The general news is that we are on time and on budget. We are looking <br /> toward our September 2018 grand opening. I can't say an exact date yet but am saying September. <br /> The new exterior and grand entrance is here. The bike shop,music studio and computer room will <br /> be with four (4) different partners. The computer room will be helped by the St. Joseph County <br /> Library and the South Bend Code School. The gentleman will actually use the bike shop as his <br /> bike shop but will teach the kids how to repair and maintain the bikes. The studio will be partnered <br /> with the guitar center. Here are some new pictures of the ongoing construction. He then went <br /> through pictures on the slides of the presentation available in the City Clerk's Office. <br /> Mr. Perri went on, All of the walls and the bones are up. The gym will be twice as large. There <br /> will be three (3) basketball courts which will have equipment to have volleyball, pickle ball and <br /> other things. It will all be air conditioned. The gym floor will have a different logo. The kids made <br /> one (1) for the basketball court. The music studio will be really cool and will have sound proof <br /> glass. The storefront to the bike shop will open up right out to the front of the park. There are a lot <br /> of upgrades that you will probably never actually see. The entire electrical system is being <br /> upgraded to be much more energy efficient as well as safer. There will be new roof insulation as <br /> well as a new sign out front.Again,this will be on time and on budget but it brings a much overdue <br /> upgrade to that park. We should be able to get irrigation in this summer for the soccer fields in the <br /> park as well. We are just waiting on some final notes from the EPA on that. <br /> Committee Chair McBride stated, Aaron,that looks amazing. My heart is full because I was born <br /> and raised right across the street from LaSalle Park. That is where I learned to play basketball and <br /> everything else so I am very pleased to see it happening. <br /> Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston stated, I would like to know the changes in terms of <br /> programing. <br /> EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455County-City Building 227W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 if574.235.9173 I TTD574.235.5567 lwww.southbendin.gov <br /> 5 <br />