View of new John & Margaret Walson Center next to the Main School building
located at 210 North 18th Street.
John & Margaret Walson Center configured as theatre/auditorium.
John & Margaret Walson Center configured as gymnasium.
Parish Activity Center (view facing east)
The following prayer is said at each Sunday Mass
by the Cathedral congregation:
Prayer for the
Parish Revitalization Project
O Divine Father, in the beginning
You breathed Your Spirit upon the waters
to bring forth life in abundance,
and by the power of Christ Your Son
and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
You have continued to
renew and revitalize the Church in every age.
Through the intercession of St. Joseph,
who made a home for the Holy Family,
and St. Catharine of Siena,
who helped restore unity to Your Church,
give us the grace to revitalize our parish,
the unity to make us one in the
One Body of Christ,
and the energy to enter into our journey of faith,
so that we may meet the challenges
of a New Millennium.
May our Lady, Star of the Sea,
make our pilgrimage safe.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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1. Building the John & Margaret Walson Center
The current Auditiorium/Cafeteria/Gymnasium in the church basement is
utilized by virtually every parish organization including the CYO,
Women Alliance, Boy and Girl Scouts, Senior Citizens, CCD Program
and many more. Relocating sports and auditorium/theatre functions
to the new John & Margaret Walson Center will allow opportunites
for growth not only in those areas and in the new faciltiy, but in the newly
refurbished Parish Activity Center as well.
- This outstanding new multi-purpose Center will be constructed
adjacent to the main school building, on the
location of two twin homes, purchased in part
with funds from the Anna L. O'Connell estate.
- The Walson Center will feature a combination
performing arts center and gymnasium, with
state-of-the-art sound and lighting equipment.
- A high-grade gymnasium floor and competition-level
basketball court will enhance a variety of parish, CYO and
Cathedral School sporting events and physical education classes.
- The professional quality proscenium stage and backstage
area will create numerous performing arts opportunities.
Retractable bleacher seating with seat backs will accomodate
300 as a gymnasium and 800 as a theatre/auditorium (almost double
the capacity of the currect Auditorium/Cafeteria.
- Locker/Rest Room facilities will feature entrances from the
lobby and auditorium/gymnasium area. Storage and office
space will be located inside the auditorium/gymnasium. A concession
stand will be located in the lobby area.
- An attractive brick canopy will provide protected access and
student drop-off and pick-up between the main school
building and the Walson Center.
2. Refurbishing the Parish Activity Center
The Parish Auditorium/Cafeteria/Gymnasium in the church
basement is overcrowded and overscheduled. Construction
of the new Walson Center, which will serve as our
auditorium and sports center, will reduce the overcrowding
and allow for much better utilization of the existing space.
- Fresh paint, bright lighting and a new high-quality floor
will update the Parish Activity Center, taking full
advantage of the high walls and soaring ceiling. The large
stage will be removed; portable stage sections will be
available for parish events. A folding divider in the center
of the room will give versatiltiy to the space, allowing two
separate groups to utilize the room at one time. The new Parish
Activity Center will seat 400 at tables and 620 in chairs when
fully operational.
- A new permanent meeting room with folding divider will be
constructed where the stage and serving areas are
located now, seating 70 at tables and 120 in chairs at full
capacity. The existing teachers' lounge will be renovated into
a moreattractive and functional lunch area/conference room with
storage.
- The existing large kitchen will be retained. The cafeteria
service area will be moved to free up current backstage
and service area space. Cafeteria tables and chairs will be
replaced with folding one-piece table, chair units that can be
closed, wheeled away and stored out of sight.
-
Basketball nets and other sports paraphernalia will be moved
to the new Walson Center, giving the room a
more "social" atmosphere.
- A new sound system will be installed, with microphone jacks
located throughout the room.
- The Campus Shop will be moved to the Troop 74 closet inside
the Parish Activity Center and coatrooms will be
built along the back wall, replacing unsightly coat racks,
with second level storage constructed above the coat rooms.
- Restrooms will be rebuilt and expanded, while additional
storage areas will be added in underutilized space.
3. Creating Additional Off-Street Parking
- Demolition of the brick twin home across from the
Church on 18th and Turner Streets, the vacant Convent, the
Diocesan Tribunal Building and the Diocesan Finance Building
will free up space for the addition of approximately seventy-five (75)
off-street parking spaces, more than doubling existing capacity
and allowing more parishioners to park closer to parish
activities.
- Rearragnement of parking lines in existing parking areas,
as well as careful attention to new parking areas, will
create easier handicapped access to all parish buildings.
- The additional new parking lot on the School Annex side
of 18th Street will allow for restructing of student drop-off
and pick-up, minimizing the traffic problems on St. George,
Chew and 18th Streets and adding to student safety.
4. Refurbishing the Main School Building
- Administrative Offices will be relocated to the first floor
of the school building to create improved security and
easier access for parents. Also to be located on the the
first floor will be the Health Suite, Music Romm, Pre-K
Classroom and CCD/Religious Education Office.
- Kindergarten through 4th grade student classrooms will
be moved to the second and third floors of the main building
and will undergo extensive renovations, including paint, new
carpets and window treatments, new "white" boards, ceiling fans
and technological improvements. A staircase will be added to
meet state safety guidelines.
- A side entrance will be added to allow for safer student
access between the school, the parking lot, and the Walson
Center. The area will be protected by an attractive brick canopy, which will allow protected student drop-off
and pick up.
- An elevator will be added to provide handicapped access.
- Specialized math instruction will be moved from a trailier
in the parking lot to the third floor of the school.
- Mechanical and electrical systems will be upgraded throughout
the school.
5. Refurbishing the School Annex
Building
- A Scouting Center with built-in storage, work areas and private
rest room will be added to the first floor of the
Annex building. A private entrance and security doors will
isolate the Scouting Center from other classrooms. The space will
be available for use by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies and Cub Scouts.
- An elevator will be added to facilitate handicapped acess to all
three floors of the Annex Buiding, which was built in 1958.
- Classrooms will be renovated and updated and mechanical and
electrical systems will be upgraded throughtout the
Annex Building matching the upgrades in the Main School building
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