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DAVID ZALAZNIK/JOURNAL STAR
The George Washington Carver Community Center, closed since late last year because of budget issues, could become a public facility if early discussion about having the Peoria Park District take it over comes to fruition. Discussions also include possible use of money from the Southtown tax increment financing district to renovate the center.
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PEORIA
George Washington Carver Community Center could become a public facility if early discussions about having the Peoria Park District take it over come to fruition.
Two city councilmen said Tuesday there have been talks about the potential for taxpayer-backed ownership, but City Manager Patrick Urich said "we have not had any conversations directly with the park district."
A Carver Center representative said it's not likely to happen.
"I don't' know if it will happen or not but it's one suggestion being tossed out," at-large City Councilman Eric Turner said Tuesday.
Peoria Park District Director Bonnie Noble said she would like to know more about the idea, and added, "We don't ever close any doors."
"We'd have to take a careful look," Noble said, noting that the park district currently owns and operates Proctor and Logan centers in South Peoria as well as the John H. Gwynn Jr. Park and family aquatic center. They also own the ball fields and tennis courts near Carver Center. RiverPlex is owned and maintained by the district as well.
"We are saturated as it is in terms of community centers," said Robert Johnson, a Park Board member who represents South Peoria. "We haven't had the conversation yet. I don't know if that is something we can do."
First District Councilman Clyde Gulley said conversations about Carver Center focus on making it a successful facility again.
"If you have a larger organization with a different revenue stream, that is what you're looking at," Gulley said. "That's the consideration."
But Ronda Guyton, second vice president of the Carver Center board, said she believes the reorganization of the facility's management and operations will prevent it from closing in future years.
"Right now, Carver Center's goal is to open as a community center . . . in April 2012," Guyton said. "We have no plans at this time or in the future to be run by another organization."
The center has been closed because of budget issues since late last year. There have been talks about renovating it utilizing money from the Southtown tax increment financing district, which was formed in 1978 and will close in two years.
The district has been a hot topic of late. A group of more than 80 people attended a town hall meeting Thursday to discuss how funds will be distributed from it. City estimates predict about $9 million in TIF-related funds could be available for projects within the district before it closes in 2013, with funding expiring in 2014.
A city report includes the center's renovation as a project that "clearly" could be eligible for TIF district money.
John Sharp can be reached at 686-3282 or jsharp@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @JohnSharp99.