Reconstruction work on the decades-old Paul Walker Pro Shop is moving along after the city approved a contract with Somerset-based Deco Architects which will provide architectural services for a project Bowling Green Parks and Recreation head Brent Belcher believes will be a hole-in-one for the city once finished.

“This is really the first step toward the eventful replacement,” Belcher said. “We want to make sure we serve the golf course and then the public uses of Covington Woods Park well as well.”

The current pro shop consists of a two-story building which houses lounge areas and storage space for Paul Walker Golf Course and restrooms used by both the park and the golf course.

It was constructed nearly 100 years ago. Belcher said the current building has been added onto on numerous occasions throughout its life, and various remodeling efforts have also taken place.

To improve ease of operation and maximize usable space, Belcher said the present idea is to rebuild the pro shop as a one-story structure. According to a city memo, there are hopes to keep some of the existing outer walls in place to help preserve the look of the area.

“One of the priorities that we have with this future building is that we want to make sure it fits in with the neighborhood,” Belcher said. “we want to make sure our future building fits in with the same architectural style and design of the neighbors.”

City commissioners last week approved an $85,000 contract with Deco to complete preliminary work on the project.

Other project priorities for BGPR include an improved golf cart storage barn providing space for up to a combined 40 carts and utility vehicles along with storage for pro shop needs, increased restroom accessibility for Covington Woods and the addition of a patio connecting the structures, according to a city memo.

Like several other parks across the city, there are plans to add an integrated storm shelter into the pro shop. Belcher said this shelter would ideally be built as a multi-use space for the pro shop, while still being rated for use as a shelter during bad weather.

“It would have to be dressed up a little bit on the interior,” he said. “It would fit in more with the pro shop at the golf course, rather than a traditional storm shelter.”

A grant application was submitted previously for the shelter. If all goes to plan, the shelter will be BGPR’s eighth in the city.

“For Bowling Green Parks and Rec, that’s about spread out throughout every area of the city that we can get,” Belcher said.

Even though preliminary work is underway, actual construction is still on down the road. Belcher said the money for rebuilding the pro shop will need to be approved next year in the city’s budget.

Nearly 25,000 people played golf at Paul Walker last year. In Belcher’s words though, the project is more than an upgrade for golfers.

“This is an upgrade for the city, in our mind, to hopefully deliver a much better product for for all of our entire users there who come to Covington Woods and Paul Walker Golf Course.”