— Decades of use, two years of extreme drought and last year’s earthquakes have exacted a toll on the Martin Luther King Center, a hub of activity for community groups.

The facility is home to a popular after-school program and other community outreach efforts. The King Center also serves as a regular meeting place for a number of civic clubs and organizations.

While the building has been in a state of decline for years, its condition caught the eyes of officials about a year ago. Parks and Recreation Director Mark Wilkerson said an engineer was retained late last year to survey the city-owned structure and assess its soundness.

“First, we asked if it was safe,” Wilkerson said, acknowledging concern for those who use the center. “Second, we asked what it would take to make the repairs that are needed.”

The engineer’s report deemed the building safe for occupancy but cited a need for “significant repairs to increase it longevity and long-term safety.” The seismic activity similar to what was experienced a year ago, the report states, could hasten further damage “to a point at which the building will not be occupiable.”

Wilkerson said the engineer estimated it would cost about $45,000 to make the necessary repairs. The money was budgeted for improvements this year, Wilkerson said, but further inspections indicated actual costs could exceed the amount put aside in the budget.

Ward III Councilor Randy Howard, after learning about the center’s state of disrepair, said he visited the facility. Based upon his findings and an engineer’s report, Howard said he is prepared to recommend construction of a new building at the same site.

“The building is getting to be in pretty bad shape,” Howard said, noting foundation problems and cracks in the walls. “I think it has been piecemealed and patched together for so long, it is time we do something with it.”

The building, which was built in three phases, dates back to World War II era and was used for some time by the USO (United Service Organization) in support of the troops. The building later served as a library for Muskogee’s black population during the era of segregation.

In 1974, the city began operating the facility as the Martin Luther King Center, providing a place to promote opportunities and “serve the youth of the Afro-American community.” Former Mayor Kathy Hewitt issued a proclamation in 1995 after a renovation project and rededicating the facility for that purpose.

Derrick Reed, director of the King Center, said the Muskogee Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Christian Ministers Union assumed facility operations in 2008. Since then, Reed said he and those organizations have worked to carry out the center’s original mission.

“When I read her vision of the center, that’s when we started planning for the after-school program,” Reed said. “We are proud of this building and proud of its history, but we are at a place where a new building might be the way to go — it would be a beautiful thing to continue what we are trying to do here at the King Center.”

Howard said the need to improve the King Center is something in which he strongly believes. While there are many things the city could do, Howard said addressing the needs of Muskogee’s youth is paramount.

“We need to take that extra step to connect with our kids, and the Martin Luther King Center is doing a good job of doing that,” Howard said, citing the after-school and summer lunch programs. “Anybody who knows about Muskogee and knows what is going on will care about the Martin Luther King Center — you cannot go down there and feel good about what they are doing for the children and the community.”

Wilkerson said construction of the King Center “predates any real building codes,” and it may be a wiser decision to invest what money the city has set aside for repairs in a new building.

The Rev. Roscoe Beasley, president of the Christian Ministers Alliance, said the King Center is the most diversely used facility owned by the city. Despite its long history, Beasley believes there would be no backlash if city leaders decide to build a new building.

“We just want it to be a safe place for the children,” Beasley said about the 60 or so students who take part in the after-school program. “I don’t think there would be any backlash from the community” if the city wanted to build a new facility at its present site.

Reed said the Christian Ministers Alliance and the NAACP are working with churches to find a home for the after-school program should the building become unsafe or while a new one is being built.

Reach D.E. Smoot at (918) 684-2901 or dsmoot

@muskogeephoenix.com.