NOTICE: This project was substantially completed in Fall 2019. Check out the Progress and Post-Construction Photos sections at the bottom of this page.

About the O’Connor Center

Located in Caswell Park just east of Fourth and Gill, the O’Connor Center serves residents age 50 and older with health services, physical fitness, recreation, and education and acts as a robust center for the Parkridge Community. With a very high user-volume and a focus on seniors, the O’Connor Center was designated a high-priority for accessibility improvements.

What We’re Doing

The O’Connor Center sub-project is broken into two phases. Phase 1—scheduled to begin construction in January 2019—will address interior accessibility issues and includes:

Improvements to the North Restrooms
Improvements to the West (entry) Restrooms
Improvements to the East Restrooms
Adjustments to protruding wall mounted objects.
Replacement of hardware on >45 doors
Door openers for the West (entry) Restrooms
Provision of ADA-compliant Tables in the Dinning Room

Click here to watch the Parking Improvements Video

Phase 2—scheduled to begin in May 2019—will address exterior issues and includes:

Renovation of all designated ADA parking spaces
Provision of accessible routes between the O’Connor Center, the YMCA, and Jessamine Street
Designation of crosswalks within the vehicular lanes surrounding the center.
Reconstruction of the main entrance to the O’Connor Center

Our Timeline & Impacts

As noted above, construction for the interior portions of this project is scheduled to begin in January. To minimize disruption to the Center’s operations, the interior work has been planned to close one restroom at a time with each restroom project expected to take 4-8 weeks to complete. All interior work should be complete this summer.

Historically, usage of the O’Connor Center is lowest during the summer months. This lower usage combined with the arrival of more favorable weather and longer days has exterior work currently scheduled to begin in May. Despite this coordination to minimize impact, the scope of the work being performed will significantly impact parking at the O’Connor Center affecting both the center and the adjacent Cansler YMCA. The work will also necessitate closure of the building’s main entrance.

To mitigate these issues, PBA is working with the City to make additional parking available in a nearby City-Owned lot which has existing pedestrian connections to the Center and YMCA. More information on this parking will be posted once a start date for the exterior work is confirmed.

Progress Photos

The photos below show off some of the completed and in-progress work on this project.

East Restrooms

6/12/19 — Renovations on the restrooms have been staged so as to allow the building to continue operating during construction. The East restrooms were completed first with new partitions to provide ambulatory accessibility.

Curb Ramps

7/12/19 — New curb ramps along the existing sidewalk through the center of the parking lot are complete.

North Restrooms

7/12/19 — The finishing touches are underway in the North Restrooms. With the new ADA compliant partitions installed only a few more days of work remain to open these restrooms.

Main Entrance Enhancements

7/30/19 — Renovations to enhance the main entrance for improved accessibility are underway and will take about another 2 weeks to complete. A temporary entrance at the North Addition is being staffed while work is underway.

Main Entrance Enhancements

8/8/19 — Complex forms are required to create the series of ramps and landings required to make the main entrance accessible.

ADA Parking Improvements

9/10/19 — Sidewalks along the ADA parking adjacent to the entry have been rebuilt to provide curb ramps.

ADA Parking Improvements

10/18/19 — New Asphalt has now been completed to provide a level area to get into and out of a vehicle. Updated parking signage has also been installed.

ADA Parking Improvements

9/10/19 — A large portion of the parking lot had to be removed and significantly regraded as the existing lot’s slope made getting into and out of a vehicle difficult. Crews have completed regrading and are preparing to install asphalt.

ADA Parking Improvements

10/18/19 — Paving has been completed and temporary striping installed. Crews will return in about a month to install permanent markings.

Crosswalks

11/5/19 — Existing crosswalks were restriped and new crosswalks added to provide accessible routes from the sidewalks and greenway all the way into the building.

Access Aisle

11/5/19 — An access aisle was provided at the main bank of accessible parking. Connected to crosswalks and sidewalks at both ends, this aisle provides a safe way for those with mobility issues to navigate the parking area.

ADA Parking Enhancements

11/5/19 — Accessible space improvements adjacent to the greenway and nearby playground enhance access not just to the building but to all of the adjacent amenities.

Main Entrance Enhancements

9/10/19 — With handrails fabricated and installed, concrete finished, and curb paint and bollards in place, the main entrance is ready to reopen.

John T. O'Connor Senior Center ADA Improvements

About the O’Connor Center

What We’re Doing

Our Timeline & Impacts

Progress Photos

Public Building Authority

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