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Activities at heart of Santo project By MELISSA MARTIN Mail Tribune Medford architect John Duffie has unveiled drawings for a $4 million renovation of the Santo Community Center, a former military training building on the corner of West McAndrews and Columbus streets. Sketches show full-size basketball courts, horseshoe pits, a community garden, a concert venue for local musicians and a community hall designed to make residents feel welcome. "The Santo Community Center has great potential," Duffie said. "We want to create a friendly environment, rather than the institutional place it's been for years." He showed drawings and described the center's master plan to the Medford City Council during a Thursday study session. The city uses the center for youth dances and concerts, guitar lessons, dog obedience classes and other Medford Parks and Recreation programs. The West Medford Community Coalition and community policing have offices there. "It's a great opportunity to provide a recreation facility on the west side," said parks commissioner Jerry McLeod. The Santo Community Center is strategically located in a recreation complex, McLeod said. Across the street is Fagone Field, where North and South Medford high school girls play softball. The city's teen center and Jackson Pool are also nearby. The city has $300,000 to spend on first-phase improvements, $250,000 of it from a state grant, said Tom Hilton, the city's recreation superintendent. The first phase of the master plan calls for 14-foot skylights, bringing natural light to the dim corridor that visitors use to reach classrooms. It also includes hanging heavy fabrics or carpets on the walls to soundproof the former drill room, lowering the ceilings and replacing light fixtures, tearing down a wall between two small classrooms, and adding a new air conditioning system, landscaping, flagpoles and a pedestrian drop-off loop. Architect sketches show a covered entryway so residents can stay dry when attending rainy night functions. Windows will open up to a landscaped courtyard, with potted trees, picnic tables, horseshoe pits and a community garden. Next to it will be a secured toddler play area. There's even an outdoor art courtyard near the corner of McAndrews and Columbus. Later phases will include renovating classrooms, turning a garage into a workshop, adding parking and building two full-sized, covered basketball courts. And one of the first things visitors will see when they walk in the center is a glass case with medals earned by the building's namesake, Sgt. Hubert A. Santo, of the 25th Infantry Division. On Jan. 24, 1945, on Luzon Island in the Philippines, Santo was severely wounded while drawing enemy fire so his platoon could withdraw safely. He earned an Oak Leaf Cluster posthumously for the Silver Star he was awarded in 1942 after the Solomon Islands campaign. "Sgt. Santo was a Medford High School graduate and played football for (legendary coach) Bill Bowerman," said Councilman Sal Esquivel. "This man was truly a hero. I don't want us to lose the sense of why this center was named for him." Reach reporter Melissa Martin at 776-4497, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.