Albany, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A new community center is opening in Albany this winter, and it’s been nearly a decade in the making. What started as a boys and girls club, then became a plumbing warehouse for Crisafulli Brothers. Now, it’s transforming into an expansive community center, and the project broke ground this spring.
“I can’t wait for it to open up, it’s going to be a joy for the community” said Ward 3 Albany Council Representative Joyce Love. “Councilman Robinson and I decided to work together eight years ago and we partnered with one another. What both of us did, we did for the benefit of the third and the fifth ward. No one was better than any other person. We work for the good of the community. That’s the work we did.”
The new Albany West Community Center will be complete with a gymnasium for basketball games and tournaments, a workout room, computer lab, art room, kitchen, pool, and more.
“This is exactly what Albany needs and deserves” said New York Assemblymember Gabriella Romero. “It’s just really amazing to have this type of investment right here in the city of Albany right after the Lincoln Park pool.”
Mayor Kathy Sheehan says the main focus throughout the process was gathering and implementing community input.
“We met people on their stoops, we knocked on doors, and we really listened to people here in the community, including our seniors, who we don’t talk to often enough” said Sheehan. “We think of young people when we think of community centers, but they’re really important to our seniors. And one of the things that we heard over and over again is that people wanted a place where they could feel safe. And so we have built this place so that when you enter this place, when you’re in this space, you feel safe and you have access to the resources that you want.”
New York Assemblymember, Gabriella Romero, says this was especially important after the pandemic.
“We see it time and time again, especially after COVID, that of all ages our young people and our older adults are feeling isolated” said Romero. “So having a space that they can come that is safe, close by in their neighborhood, they will have trusted adults that will be teaching them that will be here in this space is going to be really, really incredible. I’m excited to see people of all ages use this space, young people being able to come here for games, for sports, but also seeing our older adults have an opportunity to come here and play, but also learn.”
Programming in the space will be in partnership with community organizations.
“We’re open to all types of programs that will benefit the community and the city” said Albany Councilmember Jahmel Robinson. “I’ve been reached out by a lot of community partners who want to get in here and get right to work and try to implement some programing.”
The Albany West Community Center will open it’s doors right here, in the main lobby, as early as the first week of December.
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