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A six-figure suite of improvements to Santo Community Center’s courtyard is only some playground paint away from completion. More than 47 cubic yards of fresh concrete and nearly 3,500 square feet of soft and squishy artificial turf have been added to the former Army Reserve drill hall in west Medford, according to parks Director Rich Rosenthal, making the space more kid-friendly than ever. Renovations to the courtyard used by Discovery Preschool and others includes two new artificial-turf activity areas cordoned off with raised concrete walls, creating a soccer field and a “natural play outdoor classroom.” Assistant Parks Director Tim Stevens said the city was able to make the $100,000 budgeted for project go farther by having Parks and Recreation staff perform the prep work, leaving only the installation work to contractors. Staff removed all of the old grading material in the courtyard, cleared out the former sandbox and removed all of the loose fall material beneath the playground structure, according to Stevens. “The staff labor really reduced the overall cost,” Stevens said. The prep work by Medford parks staff allowed the city to buy a better grade of turf material, and expanded the concrete area of the courtyard, allowing the city to install a multipurpose court and basketball hoop. Staff contributions also include sanded and finished cedar stumps reclaimed from Prescott Park, which have been mounted atop 800 square feet of soft artificial turf to create an outdoor classroom area. As part of the improvements, a former custodial closet was turned into a restroom for preschoolers with child-sized fixtures. Discovery Preschool students previously shared adult-sized sinks and toilets with the general public, which the city considered a potential safety issue. An on-site storage shed is also new, allowing parks staff to store a new fleet of tricycles and other equipment. Kids will be able to race those trikes on an oval track surrounding the play area, according to Stevens. Throughout the summer, staff will stencil foursquare and hopscotch games onto the courtyard, add markings to the basketball court, and apply a splash of vibrant teal, purple, lime-green and magenta accents to concrete divider walls. Stevens said the paintwork will be done on weekends so it won’t interfere with day camps occurring at the center. Rosenthal said the enhanced facilities mean there is more for kids to do at the Santo Center. Before the renovations, parks staff typically would’ve needed to walk the kids to the playground at nearby Jackson Elementary, which involves a crosswalk. “It makes the community center better in so many ways,” Rosenthal said. The city took control of the former Sgt. Hubert Santo U.S. Army Reserve Center in March 1997, after the facility was decommissioned in fall 1995, according to archived news reports. “We’ve been steadily trying to upgrade,” Rosenthal said. The federal government leases the facility to the city for free in exchange for upkeep. Rosenthal anticipates the upgraded space will draw revenue, particularly for young children’s birthday parties. Medford City Councilor Kevin Stine, whose daughter turns 5 next month, said he liked that kids had ample space run around while grownups gather at a wide outdoor picnic area. “This is a pretty great location for birthday parties,” Stine said. Medford offers a $99, two-hour birthday-party package for children turning 2 to 8, and up to 40 guests, according to the city parks website. Stine said each improvement makes the city a nicer place for the community to live. “It’s always fun just adding to the inventory,” Stine said. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat.