Black Butte Ranch looks forward

Black Butte Ranch (BBR) is considering new maintenance, recreation and registration facilities.

Loy Helmly, BBR General Manager, laid out concep- tual plans for the Ranch at a Friends of Black Butte Ranch meeting on Thursday, March 13.

Using computer generated map diagrams, Helmly outlined major suggested modifications involving the lodge, maintenance and service center and a family recreation center.

The proposed maintenance center generated the most interest and support from the audience. A $1 million hub would be constructed on land adjacent to McAllister Road, west of Ranch homes. This would include office and work space for maintenance personnel and also include storage parking for homeowners' RVs; a storage area; and a waste field for effluent produced by the Ranch sewer plant.

A centralized service center for all registrations would be located near the main entrance to the Ranch at the old fire house building across from the general store and horse corrals. In the planning concept, the Ranch police would remain housed at this site. Post Office services and a real estate office would also be located there.

It would probably be more cost effective to demolish the old building and put up a new structure, according to Helmly.

Next to the registration center would be a family recreation complex including a gym, an indoor swimming pool, exercise equipment, two indoor tennis courts, badminton and volleyball areas, massage therapy, aerobics and yoga area, lockers and a meeting room.

"This project could be accomplished in phases and it's possible that such a facility could be open to the public on a fee basis," said Helmly.

Moving registration and mail from the present lodge opens up that area for possible use as a large format meeting room, Helmly observed.

"There could be a partition so that the large room could be divided into two smaller rooms," he said.

Dining services, receptions and similar functions would remain at the lodge.

"The lodge could take on more of a community center concept," said Helmly.

These concepts came from the facilities development task force and remain only "concepts" until voted on by the Ranch board, Helmly reminded his audience.

"Our first priority is to maintain the appeal and quality of our two golf courses at the Ranch," Helmly said. "The greens are looking good and the front nine holes are open and we'll have 18 open by spring break."

Jack Barringer, forester and Ranch resident, reported on the tree planting planned along McAllister Road where the summer burn occurred.

"Our volunteer group will plant 3,500 Ponderosa pine next month on 18 acres," he said.

Jean Nave, now managing the Friends of BBR affairs, presented long-time Friends chairperson Bob Hill a mounted Ranch picture for his many years of service to the group.