Gilroy
– Fourteen months after breaking ground, Gavilan College will
celebrate the grand opening of its Adaptive Physical Education and
Activity Center Tuesday.
By Lori Stuenkel
Gilroy – Fourteen months after breaking ground, Gavilan College will celebrate the grand opening of its Adaptive Physical Education and Activity Center Tuesday.
The gym will provide students with special physical limitations the opportunity to participate in physical education courses in what Gavilan officials are calling one of the top such facilities at a state community college.
After a ribbon-cutting ceremony that starts at 5 Tuesday evening, visitors can tour the new state-of-the-art facility and see demonstrations of the specialized equipment used in the program.
The Adaptive Physical Education building serves individuals with a multitude of adaptive needs, including those who experience permanent and temporary injuries.
Participants in the program also include seniors and people recovering from stroke or who have connective tissue limitations, for example.
Fall semester classes have been underway in the building while exterior work was completed.
To participate in the Adaptive Physical Education classes, individuals must have a medically verified disability.
The facility is expected to serve 150-200 individuals per semester.
When the center is not in use by adaptive program students, it will be made accessible to other students as well.
The project was funded through Prop. 1A, a voter-approved bond for educational facilities. It included the construction of the new building and renovation of the women’s locker room.
It took more than a decade to obtain funding for the nearly $3.9-million project.
Since construction began last July, Gavilan trustees have approved $225,964 for unforeseen construction costs, most recently for additional framing, sheet metal work and roofing costs.
The extra costs bring the total price of the center to $4.13 million.
To attend the grand opening on Gavilan College’s Gilroy campus, use parking lot H.
