A major refurbishing of Rincon’s Hinely Center is under way and is expected to be finished by the end of the month.

Workers are installing new windows, new ADA-compliant restrooms, new floors, paint and a front porch, which is nearly finished.

“We’re going to stripe ADA parking spaces and install signs,” said city planner LaMeisha Hunter. “We’re going to redo the ramp at the rear of the building — it’s going to have a railing. We’re going to replace the water fountain with an ADA compliant water fountain. We’re going to (demolish) the bathrooms and rebuild them to ADA compliance.”  

Hunter added that would allow more turning radius for wheelchairs, as well as adjusting toilet height and adding grab bars.

“The last thing is that we have the older light fixtures in the building, and we’ll be getting some better fixtures also,” she said.

Rincon Recreation Director David Wooten said a refurbished Hinely Center, along with the city’s recently-acquired Lions Club property on Lexington Avenue, could help its seniors program to grow.

“We do a senior bingo once a week,” he said. “But the building and facilities is open to them for whatever activities they’d like to get together and pursue, whether it be bridge night or whatever activity that they’d like to be involved in. They know they can just call.

“Once we get these improvements in place, I would think that might open it up for more seniors to participate because if they are in a wheelchair or are in a walker, now we have the accommodations to where it’s not such a strain for them to get in there and move around for a couple of hours.”

He also said the city plans to increase the building’s parking and add a decorative and protective fence and landscaping. The building can accommodate 235 people.

The city is also at work renovating the Lions Club building and in constructing the new Patriot Park.