A Sense of Community
• More than 500 turn out for state-of-the-art community center's grand opening.
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Signal Staff Writer
Sunday, January 22, 2006
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After a construction phase of more than a year, and at a cost of nearly $7 million, the new center is finally open, with all the same programs residents have come to associate with the center as well as some new ones in the works.
"At the old community center we had just one big room and we used partitions and curtains as dividers," said Hope Horner, community center supervisor. "We were able to accomplish quite a lot over there, but this building has separate rooms and a lot more space. We are going to be able to have more, and better quality, programs."
Horner said she has plans on expanding the art and music classes the center offers, as well as partnering with College of the Canyons to offer citizenship and English-as-a-second-language classes.
"We'll definitely be able to have more adult programs," she said. "At least here, you won't have homework and boxing going on right next to each other."
At approximately 17,000 square feet, the new building dwarfs the old one-room building on San Fernando Road that the city has leased since 1994.
"(The old building) felt more like a store front," Horner said. "Here we are surrounded by beautiful hills and (have a) state-of-the-art building."
That state-of-the-art building hosts rooms for music, dancing, boxing, a toy area for kids, a kitchen, a reading room, a computer room, office space and a gymnasium, to name a few.
In addition there is a playground and basketball area outside.
"No corners were cut," Horner said. "This really makes a statement."
A statement that a lot of people echoed Saturday morning in a grand opening ceremony that reflected the new center in production values and an all-out bravado.
In addition to speeches by City Council members, Mayor Laurene Weste and Fox sports anchor Rick Garcia, food was provided by local vendors, music and dance routines performed by Mariachi Alma De Mexico, and a host of volunteers guided tours and answered questions.
This is a family-oriented community center ... (that) is actually the best we have," Weste said. "It's a place that allows the whole community to gather in a safe and lovely environment. There's no comparison. Few community centers could compete."
With more than 500 residents in attendance, Weste said it was the biggest grand opening the city has ever had.
"That just speaks for itself," she said. "The community wanted it, they have waited for it, and they're going to use it."
The community center will open Monday with its normal hours. The new address is 22421 Market St.
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