The renovated Norwood Civic Center opened its doors to the public this week.
A newly renovated Norwood Civic Center opened its doors to the public this week after $25,000 worth of remodeling, which officials say makes the facility more welcoming.
Gerry Miller, the superintendent of the Recreation Department, said the department orchestrated a more user-friendly facility by knocking down walls to combine the Chic Center’s old setup of two offices into one larger room. The new renovation also offers lower counters for Norwood’s youth to interact with staff and grab a lollipop or get their hand-stamped for activities.
“We had basically the entrance into the facility and reception in a doorway so if you had a multitude of people coming in at the same time you had a logjam there,” said Miller. “We were able to open it up so now we have one big, wide-open office so the receptionist is closer to the public and is more visible. The same thing with the offices in the back, they can actually see the people coming in.”
Miller said the renovations were completed on Friday, Oct. 1, but staffers are still adjusting things in their new space. Renovations, he said, began in late August.
Since the newly renovated office opened up to the public on Monday, Miller said he has heard nothing but good feedback about its new look.
“Everyone seems to really like it,” he said. “Everyone who has come in has said, ‘This is great.’ So, I think we’re in pretty good shape. From our standpoint, it makes it a lot easier for us to the public’s needs.”
Chloe Gotsis/Wicked Local Norwood staff