Upgrades to Include Lift, Automatic Doors, and Ramp
The Chestnut Center for the Arts has been a valuable cultural hub for the community, but some may not be able to access its concerts, art galleries and educational classes since most of these take place on the the second floor. Currently, no lift is available to help with mobility.
To amend this, the Chestnut Center is halfway through a fundraising campaign called Art-a-Lift to install a vertical lift platform and other additions that will make the center more accessible to the elderly, disabled, and young families.
Housed in a historic building, the Chestnut Center has provided programming and art education to the public since 2003. The current campaign goal of $100,000 will establish an exterior ramp, sidewalk and retaining wall, and automatic doors in addition to the lift. Over $51,000 has already been privately raised with the help of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation.
The mission to be accessible has been ongoing since the center opened, said Executive Director Adam Smrcka. “We’ve always struggled with getting a certain demographic in here because of the stairs.”
With the lift in place, there could be more programs offered to an older demographic, especially since twenty percent of Marshfield’s population is 60 and older. The center would work with retirement homes in the area to bring in the elderly.
Most valuable for visitors will be the lift, which isn’t limited to handicap use. Art instructors, musicians, and caterers will be able to haul heavy equipment up to the performance area and educational wing. Hiring caterers for weddings, parties, and meetings has especially been an obstacle given the constraints of hauling food up the steps.
The Chestnut Center plans to run the campaign for a long time, realizing that their goal may take awhile to reach, but installations can begin before the full amount is raised. “We hope to start construction with the Community Foundation once we hit a certain point,” said Smrcka. “We’ll put the doors and lift right away once we have the funds.” The lift itself will cost about $58,000.
As for the newer space downstairs, which currently houses the alternative high school, it will eventually become a part of the center once the school moves to the YMCA.
“It’s been a process and we just need to make it come to fruition,” said Smrcka.
Donations can be made to the GoFundMe page at this link. For questions, call the Chestnut Center at at 715-389-8999.
