The Erie Runners Club has spearheaded the effort to build a covered pavilion at Beach No. 1 at Presque Isle State Park and now, after years of talking and planning, there are actual architect renderings and plans to move forward.

Construction on a 42-by-50-foot covered pavilion is expected to start in March (weather permitting). The structure is an open stock, pre-fabricated structure identical in design to the shelter at Pine Tree Beach, but this structure will also include an 18-by-32-foot enclosed space with a double kitchen sink, electricity, ticket booth doors and roll-up serving windows.

The facility will not have restroom (the bathhouse is just steps away) and it will not have a stove or cooking facilities inside the enclosed space, however, there will be grills nearby and there is a two-sided fireplace in the center of the structure.

Big dream start small

The ERC began dreaming of a pavilion on Beach No. 1 (the site of many ERC races) a couple years ago. They approached Harry Leslie at Presque Isle State Park and asked how they could make it happen. It took quite some time for the club, with help from Leslie and the officials at PISP, to talk everybody into it. They had to work with various groups, including the DCNR, the Presque Isle Advisory committee and Pennsylvania State Park system, on an acceptable facility and design.

Two architects from Rectenwald Architects, 2631 W. 8th St., presented a finalized and approved design at Monday night’s ERC meeting at the Plymouth Tavern.

Paying for it

A complete cost on the pavilion cannot be determined until they get the specs on the building, but it is estimated to cost between $100,000 to$150,000.

The ERC, as a club, has committed to funding 10% of the cost and will do fundraisers and partner with companies & organizations to solicit donations. The ERC hopes to ask members in the building trades to help construct and/or donate the labor to construct the building. (One ERC runner who owns an electrical company has already committed to donating the electrical work).

At the ERC meeting on Monday night, Erie Marathon at Presque Isle co-directors Jan Comi & Mike Vieyra, announced that the marathon would donate $10,000 in proceeds from this year’s race to the Beach No. 1 Pavilion project.

ERC member Rick Godzwa will direct a 5K on May 26, 2012, named “Run for the Shelter” with all proceeds to benefit the Beach No. 1 Pavilion project.

Aren’t you proud of your club and the cool things we can accomplish when we work together?

How about that $10,000 donation from the Erie Marathon?

What can you do to help?