Oak Ridge officials will have a community meeting in Scarboro on Thursday, March 23, 2017, to discuss building the Oak Ridge Preschool at Scarboro Park. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Oak Ridge City Council chose to delay the vote on a new preschool location at its regular meeting on Monday in order to allow time for more community discussion and input.
Now, a public meeting to discuss the preschool site has been set for 6 p.m. Thursday, March 23, at the Scarboro Community Center.
“The City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Schools have been working to choose a site for the new preschool for approximately two years,” a press release said. “The preschool would relocate from the School Administration Building on New York Avenue. Members of a committee formed to recommend possible sites looked at city-owned properties and a multitude of factors that would impact future students, their families, and the community as a whole. Two locations were ultimately identified as possibilities: Scarboro Park and Elm Grove Park.”
Scarboro Park is across Carver Avenue from the Scarboro Community Center, which was also considered as an option at one time. The Scarboro Community Center was removed from further consideration due to the challenges of converting the center for active school uses, the press release said. Residents living near Elm Grove Park, a site on East Tennessee Avenue that once housed a school, came out in support of preserving the park. Much of the feedback received about the Scarboro Park site has been very positive and welcoming of the new preschool, the press release said.
Members of City Council and the Oak Ridge Board of Education will be present at the meeting, along with city staff members and the senior project manager at Studio Four Design, the architectural firm selected for the project. Residents will be able to voice concerns and ask questions, the press release said.
City Council expects to take action on the preschool site during a special-called meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, March 27, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom at 200 South Tulane Avenue.
The Board of Education voted to approve the Scarboro Park site for the new preschool at a meeting on February 27.
What: Community meeting on the site selection for a new Oak Ridge Preschool
When: Thursday, March 23, at 6 p.m.
Where: Scarboro Community Center, 148 Carver Avenue, Oak Ridge
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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