Roscoe Township Community Center opens their doors

Roscoe Township celebrated completion of the long-awaited community center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, April 15, 2023.  Township Supervisor Bob Nowicki cut the ceremonial red ribbon surrounded by township board members and staff: Gary Blascoe, Chuck Gilbert, Pat Henderson, Elizabeth Lindquist, Dawn Cassady, and Phil Rhymer.  The large crowd was then invited to tour the new 3,370 square foot facility.

A photo scanning event, sponsored by the Roscoe Township Historical Society, followed the ribbon-cutting ceremony from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Roscoe Historical Society scanned original photos, documents, and letters.

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The community center sits on 17 acres in Founders Park, 4562 Hononegah Road, in Roscoe.  Roscoe’s first settlers, Hannah and Robert Cross, bought the property in 1835. It stood empty for several years before it became available in 2018, when it was purchased by the township.

Dawn Cassady is credited for working countless hours writing grants to restore the property and the buildings.  The township received two grants totaling $1,041,000.

Architect  Daniel Saavedra, who lives in Roscoe, designed the 3,370 sq. ft. community center.  Scandroli Construction broke ground in July 2022.  Amenities include the large community room and small catering kitchen.

“The community center will be open for activities, classes, and rentals,” Nowicki said.

Saavedra has also designed the next phase of the property, The Pavillion, to be built on the  northwest side of the community center.  The building will feature an open area in the front section for concerts and productions, and additional covered space.

Saavedra is overseeing restoration on the Cross House, which will become the home of the Roscoe Historical Society.

A large cupola will soon be placed on the Community Center roof.  Topping the cupola is a replica of an airplane, a nod to what was once an airplane strip on the property owned by Hononegah Aero Club on the east of the community center.

For more information on rentals, activities and special events, call Roscoe Township at 815-623-7343 or visit www.toi.org.