Caryl Community Center Building Committee

Caryl Community Center

The Caryl Community Center Building Committee is appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The Caryl Community Center Building Committee (CCCBC) is responsible for the strategic planning, design and construction of one or more buildings to provide space for a variety of current and foreseeable community, civic and municipal activities and uses.   As outlined in the Selectmen’s Composition and Charge, the work of the Committee is divided into three specific phases:

• Phase I: Strategic plan
• Phase II: Conceptual design
• Phase III: Final design and construction

The CCCBC is currently in Phase I of this process.  During the initial phases, the building can be used “as is” as a community center to meet the needs of Dover residents.   Organizations currently using the Caryl Community Center include:

• Dover Parks & Recreation: offices and programs, e.g. Tae Kwon Do, wrestling, pre-K sports, basketball, batting practice
• Council on Aging: function rooms
• Non-profit organizations licensed to use the building: Child Development Center, Parent Talk, Miss Erin’s School of Dance
• Other Dover-based organizations that use the building on a regular basis: Dover Mothers Association, Dover Foundation, Open Fields

Space is available for one-time or regular use.  Click here for further information.

Members

When appropriate, the CCCBC works with the following sub-committees, which are also appointed by the Board of Selectmen:

• Caryl Community Center Alternative Sites Committee
• Caryl Community Center Public-Private Partnership Committee
• Caryl Community Center Gym/Physical Activities Committee
• Caryl Community Center Great Room Committee

Meetings

Check the Town Calendar for meeting dates and times. Review the Caryl Community Center Building Committee’s meeting minutes for a record of their meetings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the history of the project?
For details on the history, click here. For Frequently Asked Questions from the 2006 committee report, click here.

What is the current status of the project?
As indicated above, several organizations currently utilize the Caryl Community Center “as is” to meet the needs of Dover citizens.

Based on the 2008 reports of the four sub-committees (Alternative Sites, Public-Private Partnership, Gym/Physical Activities, Great Room), the CCCBC recommended to the Board of Selectmen that the current Caryl site remain as the permanent site of Dover’s community center.  In response to this recommendation, the Selectmen renamed the building the Caryl Community Center.

At the Annual Town Meeting in May 2009, Dover citizens supported the continued expenditure of town funds to address key structural issues and stabilize and seal the building to prevent further deterioration and ensure its on-going use.   Specifically, critical work has been done to the roof and the masonry.  The rationale for these expenditures is summarized in the Town Meeting 2009 presentation.

The CCCBC meets regularly to determine how the Caryl Community Center can best meet the long-term needs of the Town of Dover for community, civic and municipal space.  The committee’s current plan of action includes:

• Update and reaffirm the space needs of users.
• Develop operating assumptions based on community centers in other towns.
• Consult with Council on Aging to incorporate their requirements and needs for their programs.
• Work with Parks & Recreation to explore the need for additional athletic facility space and the feasibility of its placement on the site.
• Consult with outside resources to identify, develop and estimate renovation options.
• Communicate its progress with town citizens via the web and other means.