As part of the Riverside Renaissance The highly anticipated $18 million Orange Terrace Library and Community Center will be completed in September 2008. The 39,000-square-foot project has an architectural style known as Spanish-Colonial Revival. The project includes a 13,600-square-foot library, a 25,400-square-foot community center with banquet and meeting rooms, courtyard and covered picnic area.

City staff is working closely with J.D. Diffenbaugh, Inc. and HMC Architects to complete this project, which is located in Orangecrest at Orange Terrace Parkway and Hopseed Circle. The Center offers programs for families that include a teen zone, dance area, gymnasium and a public access computer center that will provide wireless Internet access throughout the park area.

This project will feature energy-efficient architecture and will be a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified building. In conjunction with this project, the Park has been expanded with the addition of two ball fields and extended turf area.---from (www.riversiderenaissance.org)) the Orange Terrace Community Center had their grand opening on Sat. 9/13/08. This community center provides a fun place to go for families, but more importantly provides low-cost school readiness programs for children 3.5-5. With a lack of options in this area, nearby programs make early learning very costly and in today's economy single income families are at a disadvantage.

Orange Terrace Community Center is providing classes through College Bound Kidz for young kids at a rate of under $50 per week with morning and afternoon sessions available. Their curriculum is guided by California State Kindergarten standards and include comprehensive instruction in phonics, science/social studies, math, and art. This is school readiness for everyone.

-- Kimberly Mendiola