Rental Space Available In Caryl Community Center

Have you ever wondered what has become of all the big plans for the former Caryl School building in the center of town and what’s happening there now?

Ten years after the Caryl School building was returned to the care and custody of the Board of Selectmen - years during which two study committees and two building committees completed major research, reports, and recommendations - the building continues to be actively used by people of all ages. It has been officially renamed The Caryl Community Center (CCC), reflecting its present and intended use.

The Selectmen have put all plans for major renovation or rebuilding of the facility on hold for the foreseeable future, and instead have embarked on a process of prioritizing and implementing improvements that will require only modest yearly capital outlays to increase the safety, usefulness, and attractiveness of the building for all its users.

Regular tenants with dedicated space in the community center include the Parks & Recreation Department (offices, storage, and activity space for regular programs); the Council on Aging; the Center for the Development of Children (CDC); Erin’s School of Dance; and Parent Talk. Other organizations, such as Open Fields, Dover Mothers’ Group, and local sports groups, use non-dedicated spaces on a regular or intermittent basis.

And there is still space available for more people and organizations to use on a regular or one-time basis - for meetings, exercise classes, gym sports, arts and crafts projects, birthday parties, or other special events. The kitchen has been improved, including the addition of a stove/oven, to make it easier to prepare and serve food for various events. Additional improvements to the cafeteria and hallways will take place this summer.

Rental fees for one-time use of space are $25 per hour for Dover residents and $50 per hour for non-residents, to help defray the custodial and utility costs of operating the building. Fees for continuing use (regularly scheduled, recurring use) are $10 per hour for residents and $20 per hour for non-residents.

All citizens are invited to take advantage of the programs and spaces in their community center.

More information is available by going to the Town website homepage, www.doverma.org, and clicking on the link to the Caryl Community Center.