The Idyllwild Community Center (ICC) building project next to the Idyllwild Community Playground, which has been in the works for more than twenty years, is finally near completion. 

Except for a few final “punch list” items remaining under the HUD building contract, ICC’s combined CDBG grant through HUD, as well as additional Riverside County grants, have been sufficient to complete the building structure, grading work, rough in the plumbing, electrical, fire sprinklers, and primary concrete work. 

As a reminder, the original building plans from years ago called for a much larger two-story building that would have cost many more millions of dollars than ICC had access to. In 2020, in coordination with Riverside County and HUD, ICC scaled back its building plans to something more readily achievable, and importantly, more financially sustainable by a small mountain community like ours.

The current building was designed by local architect Erik Marcussen of Ground Floor Design.

A portion of the initial community funds raised prior to 2020 were used to pay for the new architecture plans, required building permits and environmental studies, fencing surrounding the Butterfield Amphitheater, an additional ten rows of Amphitheater seating, the Amphitheater’s mixing platform, and completion of its backstage area.

Unfortunately, due to COVID slowdowns at the county Planning Department to review and approve the new building plans, the current construction project was unable to commence for another two years.

ICC finally broke ground on this project in August 2022. Work on the project was then significantly delayed throughout the “snowmaggeden” winter of 2022-2023, and the monthly rains Idyllwild experienced in much of 2023 until April 2024.

And of course, over that time frame, building and labor costs have gone up…and up…and up.

This has left ICC in need of raising about $300,000 to finish the building’s interior, outside deck, and furnishings. Over the past couple of years, ICC has raised about $250,000 of the needed funds through local donations.

ICC has found a local general contractor who is willing and able to start work quickly to finish the project–hopefully in time for the summer concert season–with a bid that fits into ICC’s targeted $300,000 budget. This bid includes a donated 5% discount on project expenses and labor.

ICC is now focused on raising the estimated outstanding $50,000 to complete the project. Donations in any amount can be made via ICC’s website (www.idyllwildcommunitycenter.org) by clicking on the Donations link at the top right of the website’s homepage.

Once completed, the new building will include a great room, commercial kitchen, indoor restroom, ticket office, business office, storage, and outdoor decking overlooking the Butterfield Amphitheater. Additionally, the building will provide exterior accessible restrooms for use by Idyllwild Community Playground users, thereby eliminating the need for the current porta-potties.

The new Community Center building will be used year-round for ICC’s regularly scheduled recreation programs, including Fit After 50 and Jazzercise, in addition to being available as a public meeting space and rentable for private events. ICC is also looking into possible food service options during Amphitheater concerts and events.