New Churdan shelter house. Photo by Coltrane Carlson-Raccoon Valley Radio

A project to replace an amenity in the city of Churdan is moving closer to being fully open.

Alyssa Juergensen is the project manager for the new shelter house that she says will be ready for rent by mid-May. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio the previous structure that was in the same location, next to the city playground, was inadequate and not user-friendly. Juergensen describes one of the biggest additions are two handicap-accessible restrooms, one on the interior that can be used when someone is hosting an event, and another on the exterior, which she stresses was a need in the community.

“So the shelterhouse is located where there’s a sand volleyball court, park and exercise equipment and walking trail in Churdan. And so people enjoying those amenities don’t have access to a public restroom at this time. And so the idea behind having the restrooms that is accessible from the exterior of the building only is so that the people that are enjoying those amenities can use that restroom at any time.”     

Juergensen details some of the requirements when renting the facility includes getting an access door code emailed to the person who booked the space, a reservation cannot be cancelled within one week of the event, there are no heating or cooling options, but when renting the building, appliances and other heating and cooling sources are allowed, and reservations are on a first come, first served basis. She adds that the cost to rent the shelterhouse is $75 and anyone wanting to reserve it can click here.