County invites input from all on vision for community center in North Auburn

Published on October 05, 2015

Placer County will hold a public workshop Oct. 14 to share how ideas are taking shape for a community center in the Auburn area and seek community input on its features.

The meeting will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Auburn Justice Center Community Room at 2929 Richardson Drive in North Auburn.

The county has been working with JK Architecture for the past several months to facilitate a community process to identify the interest in, and need for, a multigenerational community center.

The process started in June, when the county and JKA first met with an advisory committee comprised of local community partners and stakeholder organizations. The committee has served as a springboard in preparation for public workshops to share ideas, test concepts and solicit feedback.  

Two public workshops have been held – in June and September – where work from advisory committee meetings was shared and attendees participated in activities to determine community consensus and provide direction in determining goals and needs for the center.

The end result of the community process will be a feasibility study, which will state the need for the center, create a vision, describe opportunities and constraints and identify potential funding sources for the identified project options.

“The purpose of this process has been to hear from residents of all ages – children, teens, young adults, parents and seniors,” said Paul Breckenridge, senior architect for Placer County. “This community center will be for everyone, so we want to know what they envision – we want their big ideas.”

A few of the features that have risen to the top of the list of priorities at past public workshops have been: flexible spaces for classes, conferences and banquets; outdoor sports areas and community gardens; and the ability for the center to serve as a transit hub.

The Oct. 14 workshop will include a presentation of the draft feasibility study and provide participants with another opportunity to share their ideas for the center.

“This has the potential to be something really great that meets the community’s needs on so many levels – social, athletic, the arts – and we’ve had great representation from the senior community,” said Breckenridge, “but we need to hear from everyone in order to make it an enriching place that serves the entire community.”   

If you are unable to attend the workshop and have ideas you’d like to share, please email Paul Breckenridge or call 530-889-6892.