Larkspur Community Center project making progress

Crews working on warm-water pool, indoor jogging track

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Larkspur Community Center next to the Bend Senior Center has been under construction since April. As of Thursday, construction crews have started digging out the area planned for a warm-water lifestyle pool.

"We’re about halfway through construction right now, and most of the building structure is up," Brian Hudspeth, development manager for the Bend Parks and Recreation District, said Thursday during a park board tour of the project.

"We’re doing some exterior framing, sheeting, and roofing," he said. "We're actually getting ready to start constructing the pool inside the space right now."

The 34,000-square-foot expansion is connected to the existing 14,000-square-foot senior center. In addition to the pool and new locker areas, the Larkspur Community Center will have an indoor jogging track, as well as a new lounge and a coffee and snack bar.

The project, estimated to cost $23.4 million, was conceived in response to overcrowding at Juniper Swim & Fitness Center, which is also managed by the BPRD.

Although it is attached to the Bend Senior Center, the new facility was designed for people of all ages wanting more fitness, social and wellness activities. 

During the summer, the Bend Senior Center was closed due to construction on the new facility. Marshall High School offered up some space at the school for seniors to continue BPRD activities until the senior center reopened in early September. The project is expected to be finished by next fall.

To learn more about the Larkspur Community Center and keep up with its progress, visit the BPRD website at https://www.bendparksandrec.org/project/larkspur-community-center/.