Final preparations under way on Dimmitt Community Center

BELLEAIR – Though the building is not yet set to be completed until August, the Dimmitt Community Center is open for basketball, and the squeak of sneakers on hardwood is already a common sound in the 9,000-square-foot gymnasium.But John Yevich, the town’s recreation director, doesn’t want people to think the gymnasium can only be used for James Naismith’s favorite sport.“The gymnasium is for anything we want to do,” Yevich said. “I don’t want people to think it’s just a basketball court.”Yevich said he already has plans to use the room for dodge ball, indoor soccer, yoga and bridge tournaments.“I’d like to add programs, like beginner gymnastics. I’m talking to a karate instructor,” Yevich said. “If there’s an interest we would try anything. We could have an adult arts and crafts class if someone wanted to teach it.”The gymnasium is only part of the 14,000-square-foot facility. The game and conference room, kitchen and lobby area comprise another 5,000 square feet.When completed, the game room will be filled with pool and foosball tables, free arcade games and a set of items Yevich is particularly proud of.“Right there, we’re going to put up a plasma screen television,” Yevich said, and gestured to one of the game room corners. “Then we’re going to put couches around it, and add a surround sound system and an Xbox 360 (video gaming console.)”Yevich said he has a popcorn machine, a smoothie machine and hot dog cooker ready for the kitchen, which is adjacent to the game room, and has a serving window facing the center’s play fields and tennis courts, and an area set aside for a playground. The kitchen will sell drinks and snacks to game participants and spectators to raise funds for the center.Belleair residents will get free center memberships but have to pay program fees if they want to engage in any league play, or take any offered classes.Non-Belleair residents can use the center after paying an annual $65 membership fee, or if they only want to participate in a certain program, they can waive that fee and just pay a higher program fee.The town’s recreation center is now housed in the old game room and occasionally makes use of the City Hall auditorium. In the past, some center activities shut down other activities because of space restrictions, but, when finished, the new, larger facility will allow a greater number of activities and programs to run concurrently. The Haunted Halloween attraction shut the game room down for one-and-a-half-weeks last October, and Yevich said that similar situations are not likely to arise in the new building.Yevich said that he hopes the center will fully open its doors in August, with the formal grand opening slated for October.The grand opening party will be a fundraising casino night. The night also will honor the naming donor, Larry Dimmitt. “The Dimmitt family is out of state now, but will be back in October,” Yevich said, explaining the late grand opening date.Once fully operational, the Dimmitt Community Center will be open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Yevich said the hours may expand on some days, particularly Friday.