Newmarket is bringing in new washrooms and safety measures to its seniors’ facility, but that has left local seniors temporarily without their signature recreational spot.
The Newmarket Seniors’ Meeting Place is temporarily closed for renovations until September. This is due to a complete retrofit of the facility washrooms, as well as a fresh coat of paint for the building, with work underway throughout July and August.
“The washrooms are designed to better serve people with limited mobility and disabilities,” the town’s public work services department said. “They each include an accessible stall, barrier-free washroom fixtures and accessories, and automatic door operators, to meet the most current barrier-free requirements of the Ontario Building Code.”
With in-person programming on hold at the location while renovations are underway, programs have instead been running out of alternative locales like the Old Town Hall. Programming will return to the meeting place in the fall, spotlighted in the town’s fall activity guide.
The washrooms will also feature a new emergency call-out system meant to enable patrons to ask for immediate assistance if needed, the town said.
The facility will also have a "vibrant and elegant colour scheme," according to the town. The project also utilized durable materials including “ceramic tile and fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) panels, compatible with moist and frequently used environments,” the municipality said.
The lighting in the facility was also replaced with energy-efficient LED lighting.
Newmarket residents can start registering for fall programs Aug. 24. The facility will reopen Aug. 29.
