SHAMOKIN - The basement of the American Legion building on Independence Street is getting a new lease on life.
Once the location of the Shamokin Coal-Township Senior Action Center and numerous bingo and card games, it is being gutted and transformed into what officials hope will be a state-of-the-art youth activity center.
"We are looking to create a home-theater experience along with a cafe and entertainment area," city clerk Steve Bartos said. "There will be seven gaming stations along the wall with Nintendo Wiis, Playstation3s, Xbox 360s and Xbox 360 Kinect. There will also be a virtual batting cage and possibly virtual golf."
The games will be connected to the Internet so users can participate in live gaming and competitions with others online.
Student idea
The project is a result of a proposal from the Student Advisory Council to turn the basement into a recreation area with a modern theme. Members of the council are area high school students Robert Bainbridge, Mariah Bielski, Veronica Kiefer, Faith Neiter, Tom Reed and Tori Young of Shamokin Area and Peyton Klembara and Gabby Long of Our Lady of Lourdes.
"Basically this was a project we started working on with the suggestion from the Student Advisory Council," city councilman William Milbrand said. "They have been instrumental in getting this going and they seem to think this will attract kids."
There will be a small cafe/coffee bar that would sell refreshments and light snacks; a reading/lounge area with high back chairs and two gas fireplaces; hard-wired computers and available wifi. The city is also looking into getting Kindles to sign out.
Aside from all the high-tech entertainment, one thing that will remain is the stage area, about the only thing left from the basement's previous life as a senior action center. There will also be dressing rooms for performers.
"They can have open mic nights, karaoke and maybe even comedy nights," Bartos said. "It will also be a place for parents and kids to enjoy while they are waiting for their SYBL game to start upstairs," he said of the Shamokin Youth Basketball League that operates on the third floor.
Independent manager
As for who will run the facility, the city is considering contracting it out to an independent manager.
"What we are going to do is outsource the concession stand and they would manage the whole venue," Milbrand said. "The city wouldn't be paying for the manager."
But before all this happens, the basement needs to be gutted. That is being handled by Community Service Opportunity Inc. (CSO), which began work last week led by Mike Walters.
The basement was heavily damaged by the floodwaters that struck the area last September during record rainfall, so it qualifies for work being done by those hired through a flood-related employment grant. The seven-man CSO Flood Crew is being paid by that grant money.
Water issued fixed
As far as the basement's continuing water issues, Milbrand is confident that they have those solved.
"The water that was in there wasn't from the Shamokin Creek, it was water from the roof drains that backed up "Milbrand said. "They have since been fixed."
Everything is being torn out, including walls, drop ceilings, ventilation ducts, floor tile, light fixtures, wiring and bathrooms.
"All the walls will be either dry-walled or painted, the pillars and ceiling will be sprayed with a sound-deadening material and the entire floor will be acid-washed once all the tile is scraped up," Walters said.
Walters and Bartos said the project should be done within four months.
"I am really happy that this is happening so quickly," Bartos said. "The CSO is making this all possible because we didn't have to make bids for a contract and all of our labor is covered. We only have to pay for materials. They are saving the city a considerable amount of money."
Milbrand shares Bartos' enthusiasm for the center and hopes it is successful.
"Only time will tell, but I am very optimistic about this," Milbrand said. "We hope it will attract a good crowd with fun things to do."
Milbrand said no bad behavior will be tolerated and that trouble-makers will be banned.
Bartos hopes this project is a precursor to a full-blown restoration of the entire American Legion building, which also houses the Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library, a local history museum, American Legion facilities, a public train display and the SYBL gym. City officials hope to secure a community facility grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As for the Student Advisory Council, its members are looking into creating a haunted house for Halloween.