The addition of an outdoor shade structure to the Ripon Senior Center just received the go-ahead for purchase.

No discussion was necessary as last month’s Ripon City Council meeting on ordering of the Landmark Shade Shelter through Park Planet.

According to Planning Director Ken Zuidervaart, the City of Ripon has been allocating the yearly allotment of Community Development Block Grant – that’s the HUD program supporting community development activities in an effort to build stronger communities – for the past few years towards a façade improvement project at the senior center.

“The project includes the construction of an approximately 1,300 square foot outdoor dining area with shade structure on the southeast corner of the existing Ripon Senior Center parcel,” he said in his report.

Zuidervaart added that the proposed shade structure will feature light fixtures and ceiling fans as well as a surrounding stucco privacy wall.

Couple that with the existing landscaping in the project area being removed.

Cost for the Landmark Shade Shelter is $34,677 and will be entirely covered by CDBG grant funds.

Staff is anticipating going out to bid for this project late this year of early 2023, Zuidervaart said.

Plans also call for a new door opening – as converted from the existing windows from within the facility – to provide access to the newly constructed outdoor dining area.

Additional project amenities would include re-landscaping of the entire front and side of the senior center along with rehabilitating and updating of the front building façade.