FARMINGTON -- Former Davis County Commissioner Carol R. Page's eyes widened with excitement Friday as she toured the new $1.6 million Children's Justice Center.
"Not in my wildest dreams. This is amazing. I don't have the words to describe it," said Page, who toured the building with other allies of child abuse prevention.
The four-hour open house gave those who help investigate and prosecute crimes against children -- from local law enforcement to state services -- a first official look at the new 9,800-square-foot CJC at 98 S. 100 East in Farmington.
The center, with homey, state-of-the-art interview rooms and a medical exam room, replaces the county's old Children's Justice Center, which had been in a renovated house at 125 S. Main St. and was recently razed.
"This is the frosting on the cake for the years I served on the commission," said Page, who was instrumental in establishing the county's original CJC building when she sat on the commission from 1993 to 2005.
Before that, Page said, she promoted the idea of such services for children as part of a Davis citizens coalition established by the late Faye Purdy, wife of late Davis County Commissioner Gerald Purdy, and Ellen Archibald.
"And now look," Page said, gazing around the large meeting room in the new center.
"These were the things that were more important to me," Page said of her push to protect and treat physically or sexually abused children and her desire to prosecute their offenders.
In 2011, 364 child abuse cases were reported to the Davis CJC, said director Tanya Perkins. To date this year, the center has received 25 child abuse reports.
"Like it or not, this is a group whose needs are not diminishing," said County Commissioner Louenda Downs, who took the tour.
But Page and Downs were not the only ones marveling at the work and detail put into the project.
Layton Assistant Police Chief Allen Swanson complimented the usefulness of the new center and how it will assist investigators.
"It's a long time coming," he said. "This is fantastic and will help the detectives in investigating (crimes against children)."
The building architect and its contractors are also proud of their accomplishment.
"What this means to the kids, I don't know how you describe that," said contractor Casey Hales, superintendent with the builder, Wadman Corp., of Ogden.
Amenities include dual waiting rooms with a bubble-covered, double-sided fireplace, a handful of interview rooms and "a lot of wood" and "a lot of natural light," said project architect Kevin Blalock, of Blalock & Partners of Salt Lake City.
The center also contains two kitchenettes and, to give child victims some "dignity," Blalock said, a separate bathroom off the medical exam room.
The center design is three wings, each wing forming the boundary of a secure courtyard where the children can play.
"We needed privacy but wanted the courtyard to be inviting," Blalock said.
He said the center's features are designed to provide visiting children and their families "a sense of calm."
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