By Taylor Boyd
Tom Steele, of the Critz area, plans to turn a building on the corner across from the Hardin Reynolds Memorial School into a community and event center for the community.
“To my understanding, it used to be a doctor’s office back in the day. There’s two homes on the property, and I think it’s 12 acres of land,” he said.
The idea for the project began after Steele’s wife, Julie Walters Steele, director of the Reynolds Homestead, kept looking at the building when she passed by.
The homestead does “a lot of programming for school children in the county, and she’s just always looking at that and saying, ‘that would be a great place to have an afterschool program and a community center,’” he said.
To kickstart the project, Julie Steele has written several grants and secured a feasibility-type grant to review the home to ensure that everything will be up to par with what the couple wishes to do with the property.
“There’s a grant in place for that, and then if that grant comes through, there will be another grant she will be able to get,” he said.
The current plan is for the project to be community-driven, with focus groups and meetings with members of the community planned for input on what is wanted and needed.
Tom Steele said the center will serve as a community meeting space and could possibly be a performance area, depending on its size.
“One of the things in the back of Julie’s mind to present is a fitness trail and a nice playground for the young kids around the area, because there’s just not a playground or park down that way,” he said.
Those that he’s talked to about the project are excited.
“I have a breakfast group down at the store there, a bunch of farmers, and they’re pretty favorable about the idea. So, if you can get a bunch of grumpy farmers excited about something, I think you’re doing something,” he said, chuckling.
Tom Steele said the goal is to raise $10,000 to get the owners to hold the property until the grants are processed.
“We have a donor who wishes to remain anonymous who has agreed to match $5,000 if we raise the other $5,000,” he said.
The fundraiser has an unofficial deadline of August 19.
As of Monday, August 10, the project’s GoFundMe has currently raised $2,530 of the $5,500 goal.
Once all the money is raised, the feasibly review can begin, he said.
“After that it’s just a matter of getting the second round of grants. That’s almost a guarantee if we come out favorably with this first rounds of grants,” he added.
To donate to the fundraiser, go to www.gofundme.com and search for “Developing The Critz Community Center” by Thomas Steele.