Newly Renovated Royal Oaks Park Building Opens

It was “another grand opening, another show” in Duarte as the City Parks and Recreation unveiled a completely renovated and redesigned recreation building at Royal Oaks Park. The 40 year-old, 2,600 square-foot building was renovated at a cost of approximately $479,000, funded with a combination of two 2002 Resource Bond Grants and Quimby funds. Celebrating the occasion with dance class children were Council member Tzeitel Paras-Caracci, Mayor John Fasana, Mayor Pro Tem Margaret Finlay, City Manager Darrell George, and Council member Lois Gaston.

After undergoing months of major renovations, the 40 year-old recreation building at Royal Parks Park celebrated its grand opening on June 25.

“It’s a wonderful improvement for the building and will offer a much more comfortable and functional facility to hold the many recreation classes and programs offered there for the community,” said Parks and Recreation Director, Donna Georgino.

Renovations include a new handicapped-accessible storefront entrance, new heating and air conditioning system, three new bathrooms, a remodeled classroom and the addition of a lobby where parents can observe their children as they participate in recreational classes.

Originally built in 1968 at a cost of $98,000, the building included an indoor/outdoor stage with an amphitheater.

The renovation project cost of approximately $479,000 was partly funded by two 2002 Resource Bond Grants -- $251,000 Roberti-Z’berg Harris Urbanized Area Needs Basis Competitive Grant and a $59,000 Block Grant. The remainder was funded with Quimby funds.

Prior to applying for the grants Parks and Recreation staff spent nearly four months surveying users of the park to determine what were the greatest needs.

“All of the requests noted in the survey were incorporated into the renovation plans for the building,” said Georgino.

The renovated building was designed by Crane Architectural Group and built by Shook Building Systems.