Navarre 4-H / Community Center

Old School in Navarre to Become New Community Center

Navarre, Kan. is an unincorporated community in Dickinson County whose citizens take pride in their community and civic involvement.

A deteriorated school building at Navarre will become a viable, efficient community center thanks to a $299,998 KAN STEP grant and proposed volunteer services estimated at $250,950. Navarre is located seven miles south of Enterprise, Kan., or about 13 miles southeast of Abilene.

The plan is to leave the shell of present 7,388 sq. ft. structure with a fairly new roof intact and to renovate various parts of the interior. The project will include the removal of the southeast 400 square-foot attached wooden annex.

Walls will be refinished where disturbed with a durable and lasting sheetrock. Broken window panes in the west wing will be removed. Old plumbing systems will be removed in the bathrooms and kitchen. New electrical and lighting will be installed. Long-lasting vinyl flooring or tile will be laid in the restrooms depending on cost. Flooring will be placed on top of existing tile so as not to disturb potential asbestos in the mastic. Interior door finishes and ADA door handle hardware will be installed. One double pane lever handle accessible set of doors will be installed at the main entrance. A gently sloping accessible ramp exists.No work is proposed for the basement areas where the abandoned and former furnaces exist.

The project architect is Dan Hall with BG Consultants, Manhattan. Grant administration will be provided by North-Central Kansas Regional Planning. Inspection and technical assistance will be provided by the Kansas Rural Water Association.