Plans for Palm Harbor's new $14.5 million recreation center will be unveiled at a free public event on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Erica Lynford, director of the Palm Harbor Community Services Agency (PHCSA), will speak at 6:30 p.m. at the Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave. The talk, titled "Creating a Sense of Purpose and Place," is part of the Palm Harbor Museum Presents speaker series.

Lynford's presentation will cover the new Palm Harbor Centre and the broader work of PHCSA, which manages parks, recreation and library services for the unincorporated communities of Palm Harbor and East Lake. The event will also address how volunteers oversee the agency and how residents can help shape its future.

New center to replace 1979 senior facility

The Palm Harbor Centre is a 28,457-square-foot facility that will replace the old Palm Harbor Senior Center, built in 1979 on the same site. Pinellas County and Palm Harbor officials broke ground on the project April 17, with County Commission Chair Dave Eggers and dozens of area residents on hand.

The building will feature an elevated indoor track, a gymnasium with space for basketball and pickleball, room for events with up to 400 people, a kitchen, backup power generation and conference space. It will double as an emergency shelter for up to 498 people.

Pinellas County commissioners approved a $14.5 million construction contract for the project, fully funded through the Penny for Pinellas sales-tax program. No projected completion date has been announced.

Free talk requires no RSVP

The Oct. 7 event is free and requires no RSVP. Light refreshments will be served. Parking is free, and the venue is wheelchair accessible. Donations are accepted.

Upcoming community events

• Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 p.m. — PHCSA Director Erica Lynford presents Palm Harbor Centre plans at Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave. Free admission.