The Township of Huron-Kinloss is celebrating a milestone for accessibility following recent renovations at a local community centre.
The project was completed at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre, with a $500,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Construction began in September 2022 and finished in September of 2023. The work involved a revamped main entrance, featuring a state-of-the-art glass foyer with automatic touch-less doors, ensuring enhanced accessibility for all visitors.
The old ticket booth was removed for added space, along with new ceiling tiles, LED lighting panels, and wood beams, as well as art from local painter Rachel Simpson.
Additionally, two new fully accessible dressing rooms were installed. These rooms are equipped with push-button accessible doors and accessible shower and washroom stalls to ensure inclusivity for all users. A new storage room next door features a roll-up door and an upgraded heating system, enhancing the overall functionality of the dressing rooms.
Sports flooring was installed in the lobby, hallways, and dressing rooms.
"We are thrilled to unveil the newly renovated RHCC, a project made possible through the generous Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant and the unwavering support of MPP Lisa Thompson," said Mike Fair, Director of Community Services. "These enhancements not only modernize our facilities but also ensure that RHCC remains a welcoming space for all members of our community. We extend our gratitude to everyone involved in making this vision a reality."
