The centre is quiet now.
But soon the sounds from children’s programs, nature workshops, business meetings and socials will fill the Town Centre Park Community Centre (TCPCC) — a civic centre next to Lafarge Lake and the Evergreen Cultural Centre that used to be known as the Innovation Centre.
This weekend, the municipality will host a soft opening of the renovated and rebranded facility, a two-storey building that’s designed to be an informal space for visitors to Town Centre Park, as well as handle the overspill programming from other City Centre venues like the Pinetree Community Centre and Glen Pine Pavilion.
Described by council as one of the city’s "most under-utilized spaces," the update of the cinder-block hub came in on time and within the $6.5-million budget, said Karen Basi, Coquitlam’s cultural service manager, who gave a sneak peek to the Tri-City News today, May 9, with facility supervisor Tara Berdej.
Although not fully complete (a grand opening is planned for September with city council), the renewed building provides an open-concept public area on the main floor with a communal living room, seating and a small kids’ play area opening onto the patio with a view of Lafarge Lake.
“It’s going to be a very casual flow,” Basi said.
As well, the city will feature original art from local artists on the living room walls, rotating the exhibit each season.
Also on the main floor is Room 1 with an accordion glass wall that joins with the living room, and two multi-purpose rooms that are also light and airy, with accents of green — the city’s colour.
Next month, the Praguery Café will open its indoor/outdoor concession while artist Amanda Hugon — best known for her work with the Raven-Tacuara collective on “The Ripple” mural, south of city hall — will lead members of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation (KFN) in painting three walls on the centre’s front and side (Hugon’s grandmother is a KFN member).
“It’s going to make this area look very unique,” Basi said.
Basement
Meanwhile, there are more multi-purpose rooms downstairs for programs that, like upstairs, also have projectors for multi-media presentations, plus two small meeting rooms for up to six people.
“These could be youth study areas like at the Coquitlam Public Library,” Berdej said, adding, “We’re still not quite sure right now how these rooms will be used.”
Administration offices and storage are also on the lower level, as is the Studio — a large room with a double sink suitable for “messy” programs like art and science.
After this weekend’s soft launch, TCPCC will be open on Sundays and Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Stop by the Town Centre Park Community Centre (1207 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) on Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. or on Sunday, May 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to tour the facility and take in the activities. Next week, the city will have a series of try-outs and drop-ins available.
