The Frankfort Parks Department has been renovating the Neighborhood Center since the beginning of 2023, and it is now available for reservations.
Kaytianne Gellenbeck, Frankfort Parks Events Coordinator, presented a plan to renovate the Frankfort Neighborhood Center to Mayor Judy Sheets at the end of 2022. The Board of Public Works, along with Mayor Judy Sheets, approved the plans by encumbering what was left of the park’s budget from 2022. “I was excited to hear Kaytianne’s plans for the Neighborhood Center. I had been in it a couple of times and noticed that the ceiling was in bad shape, and I don’t remember the last time the carpet had been replaced, stated Mayor Judy Sheets. I knew she worked hard on the color scheme and finding local contractors for any work the park employees couldn’t do.”
The Frankfort Parks Department was given ownership of the Neighborhood Center in 2018 and had slowly been working on sprucing up with new windows and paint. “Since we started taking reservations for Prairie Creek Park, I saw a decline and heard comments about the Neighborhood Center and realized we needed to do something, said Gellenbeck. I want this event center to shine just as much as any venue in town.” The Parks Department employees could do most of the work themselves with new paint on every inch of the walls, new smoke detectors, replaced hardware on the cabinets, replaced doors, added changing tables, and a few other jobs.
Local contractors, like Shannon Campbell with Campbell Electric, replaced all of the light fixtures throughout the venue and new outlets and light receptacles. Jason Passmore, with JP Handyman Services LLC, replaced the ceiling in the main room. Jason added a little touch, but it made a massive difference by painting the framework to match the new ceiling. Aaron’s Flooring replaced the old carpet and fixed areas where the surface had been damaged underneath. A new sign will be going in from Aidex Graphics, and will complete the project this spring. “All of the contractors were great to work with. They provided us with helpful knowledge of what we should use and finished the projects promptly and professionally. We think the community will love the changes,” stated Jason Forsythe.
The Neighborhood Center is now open for reservations starting Friday, April 14. To reserve the Frankfort Neighborhood Center, please call Kaytianne Gellenbeck at 765.659.3422 or by email at [email protected].