TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WBEN) - If you drive along I-290 in Tonawanda you may have noticed a few weeks ago that the dome at the Paddock Chevrolet Golf Dome is back up. But that doesn't mean it's ready to open just yet.
Town workers are still looking to fix some equipment issues before they official open the golf dome back to the public. There is still no firm date set for the golf dome to open publicly.
"Cosmetically, we're ready to open," Town of Tonawanda Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, Mark Campanella, said. "There are some mechanical issues that are beyond our control that nobody could foresee that have come up up that is keeping us from opening."
The Town of Tonawanda took down the popular dome in June 19 after nearly two decades of use by the previous dome. Campanella said the old dome had only a ten-year warranty but the town managed to get several more years of use out of it.
At the time that the old dome was taken down, the town estimated that it would reopen in November, though delays caused by weather and the current mechanical issue have resulted in the delays. The dome is normally open from October to May.
The golf dome's closure is a short-term problem for Campanella and the town. However, once it opens, he expects long-term success. He said that the new dome has a 20-year warranty on it, which doubles the previous dome. Along with the new fabric, the golf dome features replacement cables that allow more flexibility for the dome. The town also did ground construction around the dome and installed a drainage system to help with long-term sustainability.
Inside the dome, it will feature a darker background for those on the range. Campanella said it will help golfers better track their balls. He also said a new turf was installed that is utilized by area high schools and new carpeting along the promenade that was installed in carpet tiles that can be replaced in case one gets soiled.