Renderings for the new Aberdeen Activity Center were presented to the Aberdeen City Council on Monday and drew skepticism from council members and residents.

The anticipated completion of the project is early 2028, according to Paul Magness, director of Harford County Parks and Recreation. During the Monday meeting Magness explained that the city has requested $10 million from Harford County’s fiscal 2027 budget for completing the center.

Magness said construction of the 32,524 square foot building should begin in the second half of 2026 and take roughly 18 months to finish. City Council member Tandra Rigley said she was underwhelmed by the design.

“When I look at the renderings this almost gives a warehouse feel…,” she said. “We’re only just getting a bunch of gyms.”

Plans for the community center show four basketball courts, family restrooms and various storage spaces. Outside the building, there will be 350 parking spots, a playground, rugby field, walking trail and swim facilities.

Rigley said she feels the community deserves better and that she wasn’t excited for the construction of the proposed building. She added that the community will probably make do with what they have, as they’ve done in the past.

Magness said when creating the layout of the building, city officials tried to craft something that provided a level of flexibility, allowed for different opportunities and was realistic for the amount of money that’s available.

The creation of the activity center has been in talks for years, first coming up in 2009, according to Mayor Patrick McGrady. Since that time, there has been money set aside to design the building, but efforts were pushed back numerous times between 2009 and 2013. To revive the initiative, in 2019 the city purchased 13 acres of land at 684 W. Bel Air Ave. for $1.2 million.

Council member Tim Lindecamp asked Magness how confident he was in this project being finished by the anticipated date, stating he won’t believe it’s happening until he sees a shovel in the ground. Magness explained there is still some designing that needs to be done before the work begins.

Council members and McGrady suggested design changes including adding a steel wall where kids can throw a ball against instead of throwing it at the building and reconstructing the outside to incorporate more historic elements of the town.

During the public comment portion of the meeting residents expressed agreement with Rigley regarding the design of the building, stating that the city deserved better and should receive a building that is more aesthetically pleasing.

McGrady emphasized that once the center is finished it will continue to evolve, becoming a place that residents can use for years to come.

The total budget of the project is not yet available; the city must first put it out for bids.

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