Community Center 'Lift' Work Nears

Work on making the Bay Spring Community Center in West Barrington completely accessible to the handicapped could start in the spring.

The work primarily involves installing a "lift" with an enclosure to an outside wall of the former fire station on Narragansett Avenue. 

The lift – similar to a small elevator but much less costly to install on an exterior wall -- will allow anyone to get to the second-floor, which was renovated and used as a performance venue before being shut down by the town manager as a violation of federal ADA guidelines.

Barrington’s capital budget includes $80,000 to pay for the installation of the lift and other less expensive repairs to the interior stairs. 

“Both bids that came in were over budget,” said Town Planner Phil Hervey. “We sent them back for revisions. Both will be presented to the Town Council on March 4.”

Hervey said he anticipates starting work before the end of March or in early April. Concerts and performances could return to the second floor of the community center by this summer depending on completion of the construction.

The community center board also has been raising money to supplement the capital budget expenditure. Hervey said he expects that money to be used for other improvements or programming in the building.