City purchases old gym from school district

The City of Waldport has reached a purchase agreement with the Lincoln County School District for the old gym building in downtown Waldport located next to Southworth Park. The sale will add to the Southworth Park footprint - allowing expanded parking and exterior restrooms for the park, and retaining the community learning garden. Longer term plans include rehabilitating the building into a community recreation & activity center, along with a site for a potential new city library adjacent to both the garden and rec center. 

“This property has been a hub for our community since I was a child at Waldport Elementary,’ said City Councilor Melaia Kilduff. “I look forward to creating a permanent space for families and children to create memories there, again.”

The sale, which should be completed in April, will allow the city to start writing grants for improvements and start taking care of the facility and grounds more readily. 

“Rehabilitating this building and combining it with the Southworth Park will give a new life to our downtown for which our citizens can be proud,” offered City Councilor Jayme Morris. 

While funding for this project will come from future fundraising and grants, the city was able to put together a financing package that will keep the costs from having a significant budgetary impact. The city will be reaching out to interested local contractors and groups for assistance in both raising funds and making improvements as funding is secured.