The schedule for opening the city’s new recreation center at Rock Chalk Park always seemed ambitious so it wasn’t a big surprise when city officials said last week that the proposed opening of Sept. 2 would be delayed.

It would be nice to have the facility open as soon as possible, but officials have their priorities straight when they say, “we want to do this right.”

Ernie Shaw, the city’s director of parks and recreation, said the center may have a “soft opening” in mid-September but a grand opening won’t happen until sometime in October. Several classes scheduled to begin at the center right after Labor Day will be delayed a few weeks, he said.

That’s unfortunate, but the city only has one chance to get this facility “right.” The controversy surrounding the unusual bidding process for the center makes it even more important that city inspectors make sure the project is completed to the highest construction standards and contractual requirements. Now is the time to make sure that happens not months after the city occupies the facility.

“Really, I don’t think the work could be going any better than it is right now,” Shaw said. That’s good to hear, but Lawrence taxpayers still have justified reservations about how this project was handled and will be quick to point out any deficiencies in the finished product.

The delay presumably won’t affect any reservations for major tournament events at the center. The city took a conservative approach by not taking reservations for such events before January 2015. After that, the city hopes the center’s eight gyms will be used often for youth basketball and volleyball tournaments; the city is counting on those rental fees to help cover the center’s operating costs.

We hope the new center will be a boon not only for regional sports but for local residents. Officials are in the process of finalizing hours for the facility and have indicated it may open as early as 5:30 a.m. and stay open as late as 10 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. for people who want to make use of the indoor walking/jogging track and other facilities.

With the controversy this project has spurred, many Lawrence taxpayers still are waiting for proof their tax dollars have been well-spent at Rock Chalk Park. Taking time to make sure the new recreation center is in top operating condition when it opens would go a long way toward easing their concerns.