Programs and staff from the Burien Community Center will be moving into the former Burien Library building at 14700 Sixth Avenue S.W. on April 13.

The community center has been known for a variety of programs for all age groups in the community. The current location at 425 S.W. 144th Street will remain open for other programs and community organizations that have rented out space there.

Michael Lafreniere, Burien Parks and Recreation director, explains that the plan to move was made in 2006. But this is not a permanent move, he added.

"The city did a study to look at the recreational needs for the city residents. The master plan is to rebuild a new community center on the existing site and part of the plan is moving the existing programs into the former Burien Library building during this transition," Lafreniere noted.

Lafreniere said that the move to the new building will open up chances to introduce things that the community center was not able to do at the previous building. One of the new opportunities for the community center will be the banquet room that can be used for parties, weddings and special events. He also mentioned that each center room will be named after a Burien park.

"Our premiere room for meetings will be named Seahurst, which is our biggest park in the area," Lafreniere said.

Despite some changes, the new community center will offer the same programs, according to Debbie Zemke, Burien Parks recreation manager. But there will be a few new things that residents may want to check out.

"There will be new seasonal programs as always but there will be one room for fitness equipment," Zemke noted. "Currently, we are looking into a partnership for some fitness equipment for that room."

Some community organizations, such as Burien Little Theatre, Burien Preschool Coop. and Para los Ninos, will remain in the old community center due to the equipment and space that is already available.

Lafreniere added that besides the banquet room and fitness room, there will be also an atrium and a space for public art, which should be completed before an open house.

"Even though we are opening on April 13th, we will also be having an open house on May 15th that will be ideal for residents who want to register for summer classes as they will be discounted up to 50 percent on that day," Zemke said.

The open house will also include class demonstrations, raffle prizes and kids activities from 1 to 3 pm. For more information on the move and open house, call 206-988-3700.