By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
NEWPORT, N.H. — The LaValley Family Community Center will be holding an opening ceremony event this afternoon, where there will be a ribbon cutting and an unveiling of a donor wall at the newly opened $9 million complex.
Town Manager Kyle Harris said representatives from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s office will be at the event, as well as a member of the Department of Agriculture and others from the state government. The day will be a chance to recognize the approximately 125 donors, and the reveal of the donor wall will be a majestic site as it includes the community members who gave anywhere from hundreds to more than $1 million toward the project.
Harris said that anyone planning on coming to the event should just go to the lobby of the building and they will be directed into the brand-new gymnasium, where bleachers will be ready for an expected turnout of around 1,000 people.
“We’re going to have some opening remarks and have an opportunity for some of the big donors to speak,” said Harris. “It’s exciting. It’s been open for almost two weeks now, but this is a big weekend coming up.”
On Thursday night the center will host the “Business After Hours” by the Newport Chamber of Commerce at 6 p.m., followed by a dodgeball tournament on Friday, the Harlem Wizards playing against Newport teachers on Saturday at 6 p.m., and a Zumbathon on Sunday afternoon from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
“It’s a busy weekend where we can show this off,” Harris said. “Then we have the deliberative session coming next month, which is something not athletic related, but something central for the community.”
Recently, Gov. Kelly Ayotte stopped by for a tour of the facility and was impressed by it. 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 on construction a little more than a year ago.
The center has a fitness room, storage area and office for the recreation director, and will 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 is 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.
The 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. Parks and Recreation Director PJ Lovely is happy to see the project come to life.
“We’re thrilled by the response of this community and surrounding communities,” Lovely said. “People are welcoming this place with warm arms, and we’re getting a lot of people in here. They love the courts, they love the facility and the openness, the staff is so welcoming. We are lucky.”
The grand opening ceremony will take place in the gymnasium of the LaValley Family Community Center at 15 Meadow Road in Newport.
