By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
NEWPORT, N.H. — The brand new LaValley Family Community Center has a soft opening scheduled for next week, with Newport Town Manager Kyle Harris saying the finishing touches are happening as we speak.
“Move in and a soft opening is scheduled for next week,” Harris told the board of selectmen at their meeting on Monday night. “We are still waiting on the bleacher installation and the transfer to permanent electric. We’ll be planning a grand opening celebration for the last week of March.”
The $9 million project has been about 30 years in the making through conversations and studies, according to town officials who have been there every step of the way. It is a major step up from the current, much smaller, facility, bringing a state-of-the-art building that provides ample space for a number of activities and events. The town broke ground a little more than a year ago.
The center will have a fitness room, storage area and office for the recreation director, and also be a location for programs. It will allow for five programs at once, and the gym can divide to allow for multiple activities.
There will be a multi-purpose room with ping pong tables and couches, which is also an open area for children to play. When there are sporting events being played, both indoor at the fields on the property, or inside, there will be a concession stand for people to get refreshments.
The building has five team rooms and 11 bathrooms, and one will have a shower.
It has a focus on creating public space, as well as a massive gymnasium that can fit the current recreation center in it. This facility will be a great spot for birthdays and other programs, as well. The current building is an 8,000 square-foot armory that was built in 1937, and officials said in a tour that there is just not nearly enough room.
The town recently held walking tours as part of the Winter Carnival activities. The first scheduled major event at the facility is on March 11 for residents to cast their ballot for school elections.
“Next week we have a rental at the center, and we are starting to move our offices in,” Harris said. “Recreation might have an activity or two, but nothing big planned for a little bit.”
The opening ceremony will span four days, from March 27-30, and there are a number of events in the works. Harris said the center will be hosting Newport Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, the Harlem Wizards will be playing, and there is a dodgeball tournament being planned for one of the nights.
“We are trying to get some activities to get a variety of people into the community center to see it and enjoy it,” Harris said.
