The Ashland Community Center at 59 Winburn Way has been closed until further notice.  A draft report prepared this week by an independent structural engineer concluded the current condition of the structure is “unacceptable.”  As a precaution, upon recommendation by the City Building Official, the building will not be available for occupancy by the public until the structure has been deemed safe.

The Ashland Community Center is a wooden structure constructed across from Lithia Park by a civic organization in 1922 and donated to the City of Ashland some years later.  

The Ashland Parks and Recreation Department Recreation Division manages rental of the facility on an hourly basis to 20 or so groups each week.  Parks will be making every effort to accommodate the groups elsewhere, but some disruption of the activities of the users of the Community Center will be inevitable.

The engineer’s draft report says structural renovation is needed within the roofing system and may require complete removal and repair of the existing roof and ceiling structure over the main hall of the building.

The City will be seeking further engineering analysis to determine the cost and duration of full restoration and repair and to determine the feasibility of temporary measures to alleviate safety concerns.