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STERLING – The Sterling Park District’s Frank R. Duis Recreation Center has a new look and a modern sensibility.
Inside and out, the facility at 211 E. St. Mary’s Road has undergone a $3.5 million renovation, the first major remodeling since it was built 42 years ago.
Inside the two-story facility, an elevator has been installed and the lobby has been completely redesigned, and now sports a sleek new registration desk.
The locker rooms, fitness center, multipurpose room, staff offices and restrooms have been updated, and viewing areas for the refurbished pool and the gym have been added.
The gym is the new home of the park district’s gymnastics program, Saltos Gymnastics.
A new fresh and cool purple and green color scheme ties everything together.
Outside, the roof and siding was replaced, the east and south parking lots were updated, and a new north parking lot was added, and all three got new lighting.
Bonds were issued to pay for the bulk of the project.
The rec center’s indoor pool now is Sterling’s only municipal pool; the 80-year-old Lawrence Park Pool, on the island between Sterling and Rock Falls, saw its last batch of summer swimmers in August, when it was closed for good because of low attendance and high maintenance costs.