Damaged Paynetown Center repaired, celebrates reopening

Adults, children and a few dogs gathered on a breezy Friday evening to celebrate the reconstruction dedication of the activity center at Monroe Lake. Visitors enjoyed music from the local band Carpenter and Clerk and free ice cream from Chocolate Moose.

Located at the Paynetown State Recreation Area, the activity center closed for a year after flooding damaged the structure in May 2011.

“The water was 19.2 feet above pool level, which is the highest the reservoir has ever been,” Interpretive Naturalist Jill Vance said.

Vance said she worked for the Department of Natural Resources for several years before transferring to the Recreation Area last year. Since then, she has worked to get the activity center back up and running.

“There was about a foot of standing water in the building, which did a lot of damage to the floors and walls,” Vance said.

With record low water levels, the facility now sits above the current water level.
Outside the activity center, decking has been replaced and the building has been painted in muted brown tones. Inside the center, volunteers have completed extensive painting and decorating. But additional renovations are yet to come.

“This is only the first phase of our reconstruction effort,” Vance said.

She has plans for new projects, including the establishment of a recycling program, as well as several new activity areas featuring an interactive map of the reservoir and an interactive floor activity that will focus on the history of human relations with the lake.

Constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 1950s, Monroe Lake has been maintained by the state as a flood control reservoir and recreation area.  

“We wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for the reservoir being built for flood control,” Vance said. “It served its purpose last year by controlling the severity of flooding in the
surrounding areas.”

During the dedication ceremony, Linda Lightner sat at a picnic table and enjoyed the festivities.

“We’d have drowned sitting here a year ago,” Lightner said.

She and her husband helped repaint the building with materials donated by Lowe’s, she said. They also planted trees and shrubbery throughout the past year.
“We live nearby and enjoy hiking near the lake,” Lightner said.
 
Future planned activities include a celebration of National S’mores Day in August, which will feature a s’mores recipe contest.