The Boykin Community Center, a staple of Auburn parks and recreation outreach for years, is finally getting some updates it has needed.
The center, which provides rental space for organizations such as Auburn Daycare, Joyland, the Lee County Boys and Girls Club, and the Adult Senior Center, will soon open its doors to the Auburn Police Department and the Auburn Judicial System.
Both the courthouse and police station will soon begin remodels that will allow for more space and updated floor plans.
While these remodels take place, Jarret Jones, recreation center director for Boykin, was glad to house police and judicial operations during the months they cannot use their own buildings.
“I was just being a team player, and when they move in, they will be very beneficial to our premises,” Jones said.
With the movement of the police and court comes new amenities for Boykin, such as swipe cards to enter areas of the buildings and more cameras to better monitor the properties.
They will also update aspects of the community center to Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
One of the greatest benefits of the temporary move comes from a need for parking at the community center, according to Jones.
“The main concern for the people moving in was the lack of parking,” Jones said.
That was when they made the decision to clear some green space next to the center for parking.
When the departments move back to their respective buildings, the parking lot will be converted into a new recreation area with new resources such as outdoor basketball and other conveniences.
The current tenants had to rearrange some of their rooms to make space for the move, but this has benefited the tenants as many offices that were formerly sprawled across the property are now closer for each other’s benefit.
The move to Boykin begins in December 2015 and the remodeling is scheduled for July 2016. The community center will house its new guests for anywhere from 18-22 months.
Mike Edwards, budget manager for the city, says that the remodel for the police station was especially necessary.
“That building was built in the '70s, and there is so little space we have some offices back there with four police officers to a room,” Edwards said. The courthouse’s main improvements will be in the judicial administrative area, though the actual courtroom will remain mostly untouched. Cases will temporarily be held in the Boykin auditorium.
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