STUTTGART, Germany — Construction crews on Tuesday began renovating the bowling alley on Panzer Casern in a project that will double the number of lanes and change it from a bar-dominated center to one that embraces families.

“This is long overdue,” said 6th Area Support Group Commander Army Col. Larry Stubblefield.

The 12-lane center closed April when Morale, Welfare and Recreation staff sold its equipment — even the rented bowling shoes.

“When we reopen, everything will be new … bowling balls, lanes, shoes,” said MWR operation chief and project manager Brenda McCullough.

Surveys of military and Department Defense workers and their families found they wanted a place where everyone, from parents to young children, could have fun.

The trend in military bowling centers has gone from facilities that catered to single adults to ones that hosted families, she said.

The $6 million renovation will be completed in about 15 months, McCullough said.

The biggest changes will involve a design that splits the building into two parts — one for adults and one for families.

The adult side will be a traditional bowling alley. The other side will have video games and a special playroom with a padded floor and hands-on amusements for children.

Parents can bowl and their children can safely play, McCullough said.

Stubblefield said there are also plans for a new kitchen and a digital scoring system. Previously patrons had to tally the number of pins knocked down with a pencil and scorecard.

The center’s layout is similar to one created and built for Patrick Henry Village in Heidelberg. The same firm designed the Stuttgart center, McCullough said.

Dennis Maruska, the 6th ASG director of community activities, said the center, when completed, will become the showpiece for the ASG.

“This is going to be a place for the whole family,” he said.

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