Frequently Asked Questions

The following list was provided by the Town of Bow Facilities Department and discussed in meetings with HL Turner regarding Concept #1 all Revision Levels.

• Fire separation in basement, kitchen and gym and old FD and gym, offices and gym
• Replace kitchen hood and suppression system
• Upgrade fire alarm system
• Fire Suppression system
• Emergency lighting
• Electrical upgrades
• ADA Compliance
• Occupancy requirements for a certificate of occupancy of 300 people
  • Increase qty of water closets.

There were three concepts generated by the Bow Community Center Committee and advisors: Concept #1, #2 and #3.

•  Concept #1 - bring the current community building fully up to code.
• Concept #2 - utilize much of the current community building and add a new gym. Site work required for new parking area and traffic flow.
• Concept #3 - construct a new community building on the lot where the gazebo is located. Convert the current community building site to a green space.

 Based on public feedback from listening sessions, Concept #1 had further revision levels to increase program space and functionality.

•  Concept #1 Revision Level #1 - Bring the current Community Building up to code.
• Concept #1 Revision Level #2 - Bring the current Community Building up to code. Add bathrooms and some program space to the vacated Fire Department side of the building.
• Concept #1 Revision Level #3 - Bring the current Community Building up to code. Fully remodel the vacated Fire Department side of the building.

 Based on public feedback from listening sessions, Concept #3 was scaled back from a 2-story building to a 1-story building.

 At the May 21, 2024 meeting, the Bow Community Center Committee unanimously voted to eliminate the original 2-story Concept #3 for the revised 1-story Concept #3.

 On June 4, 2024, the Bow Community Center Committee held a working session to determine a single concept #1 revision level for future consideration. The Bow Community Center Committee agreed to move forward with Concept #1 Revision Level #3 as it offered the most complete Concept #1 support for the needs and wants of the Town understood to date, met all code compliance (Concept #1 Revision Level #1 did not for water closets) and was deemed to offer a better outcome for the price over Concept #1 Revision Level #2.

 At the July 16, 2024, the Bow Community Center Committee voted to remove all Concept #1 Revision Levels from future committee consideration. The vote was 5 in favor, 1 against, 1 abstain. The committee agreed to move forward with Concept #2 and the 1-story Concept #3.

 All concepts and associated estimated total cost is available at the following website: https://bownh.gov/854/Community-Center-Study-Committee

An evaluation will have to be completed by the Fire Chief and ultimately the Selectboard will decide what types of activities will be allowed or discontinued.

Meetings are public, held on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm and the minutes posted on the Town’s website.

 Residents seeking vetted information or Community Center Committee status and activities should go to the Towns website at, https://bownh.gov/854/Community-Center-Study-Committee

 Residents can also contact the committee by sending an email to candrews@bownh.gov

The current Community Center Program Room is advertised for use as an 80’ (L) x 50’ (W) space. The wall to wall dimensions are 79.5’ (L) x 49’ (W). Obstructions, such as the stage and roof columns reduce the space to 78.5’ (L) x 46’ (W). These dimensions do not account for the 4’ x 6.5’ ladies room entrance in the corner of the space. Other “movable” obstructions such as tables, chairs, garbage cans, coat rack, air purifiers are not part of the area space calculation.

 A junior high/middle school basketball court is 74’ (L) x 42’ (W) with a minimum additional space from each end or sideline of 3’ to 10’. As a result the smallest space needed for a junior high/ middle school gym is 80’ (L) x 48” (W).

 A full-sized basketball court for college, NCAA, NBA and Olympics 94’ (L) x 50’ (W) or a high school court 84’ (L) x 50’ (W) will also not fit in the current Bow Community Building.

 Dimensions for all basketball courts taken from: www.sportsvenuecalculator.com

Yes, however limited to two similar activates separated by a current wall, emergency egress will need to be evaluated.

Based on feedback from the Public Listening sessions, the Community Center Committee worked with HL Turner to create three (3) renovation levels for Concept #1 that do utilize the old fire station in a new layout. The Community Center Committee selected a single renovation level (Concept #1 Renovation level) to move forward in public outreach activities.

The Bow Community Center Committee generated a historical utilization model. The utilization of the current Community Center is calculated to be roughly 37%. This utilization is consistent with the estimated utilization of 35 - 40% for the Green Street Concord Community Center.

 The utilization model uses historical information and does not provide reasons for the current utilization level and is not suitable for predicting future use.

 The Bow Community Center Committee does not provide a revised numerical utilization figure for an enlarged or new Community Center. Groups in town (Bow Athletic Club, Mens Club) stated during outreach sessions they can increase their usage with Community Building with increased functionality (i.e. improved gym space and kitchen)

The Bow Community Center Committee does not forecast additional programing can be offered if the current Community Building is brought up to code. The current Community Building has one program space and bringing the current building up to code without addition of program space would not allow for additional programs.

 The Bow Parks and Recreation Department is taking program suggestions from the public. If you want to offer a program or want to attend a program that is not offered, please reach out to them.

The Bow Recreation Center Gymnasium (Bow Rec Gym) is not suitable for some ball sports based on its size. The size of the Bow Recreation Center Gym is 45’ x 38’4” x 10’ 6” (L x W x H).

We do not allow adults to use the Bow Recreation Gym to ensure the safety of the children enrolled in the pre-school and before/after school programs. When the aforementioned programs are operating, the Bow Recreation Gym space is utilized regularly by the youth programs.

The program at the Bow Recreation Center runs from 7:00AM - 6:00PM, Monday - Friday. The cleaning company comes in to clean the building weekday evenings. Typically, the Gym is not used after hours. There has not been much interest in using the Gym space due to its size, acoustics and lack of storage for non-Bow Recreation Center programs. Last, the current configuration of the Bow Recreation Center does not limit access to sections/areas and information in the building. Security when the building is not staffed would need to be considered for after hours use.

Other Town facilities have been evaluated for program use. While it is possible to utilize other spaces there may not be available time slots that coincide with program needs. Also, many of these spaces are not compatible with the types of uses that are requested.

The life of the building is not expected to be extended as a result of the upgrade to meet life safety code.

Below is a list of items the Selectboard has approved and funded since roughly 2017.

• Fire retardant paint and curtain
• Boys restroom converted to ADA family restroom
• Light switches relocated for ADA compliance
• ADA side ramp constructed
• New fire egress door installed
• Back bay has had fire separation material installed
• Minimum upgrade to fire alarm system
• Office refurbished
• New LED lights in gym and office
• Asbestos holes sealed and covered
• Electrical system mapped out
• Kitchen vent hood stove pipe stack repaired for current use

Other events/considerations that diverted funding from the current Community Building improvement include the PSNH Settlement, improving other facilities (Municipal Building on Grandview Road) and challenges resulting from managing the COVID pandemic.

Estimated at $420,000.00 which includes asbestos abatement. Demolition data taken from Concept #3 financials.

The following are examples and not intended to be an exhaustive list:

• Automated entry doors
•  Door handles
• Signage
• Water bubbler access
• Wheelchair access (kitchen, stage)
• Electrical outlets/light switches

Yes. The following will need to be factored/considered into a new building on the current Community Building site. The following is not an exhaustive list of considerations as the Current concepts considered by the Bow Community Center Committee do not include a new building on the current Community Center site.

• Will require additional construction costs due to water table and soil condition
• There will be restrictions based on set back requirements due to proximity to pond and road ways
• Will require that programs will need to be suspended for approximately two years unless other venues are located

The impact to the sledding hill and gazebo depend on the solution the Town Legislative Body supports (i.e. the residents of the Town of Bow)

•  Concept #1 - No change planned for the gazebo or sledding hill.
• Concept #2 - No change planned for the gazebo or sledding hill.
• Concept #3 - The sledding hill be built to the right side of the Coffin Bldg. (Blue building). The hill will be made with the spoils from the new site an be engineered to provide for safety. The Gazebo will be relocated. Once the old building is demolished this property will be graded, seeded and become a green space. Concept #3 depicts a location for a relocated sledding hill, gazebo and possible use of the old community building location.

We have looked into possible grants however it's not possible to apply for such grants until we have a solid plan.

The new facility will be solar-ready however the roof system on the existing structure would have to be evaluated.