Meredith Community Center opens today

A 50 year dream of many supporters, committee members, user groups, town officials and members of the community will become a reality today as the Meredith Community Center will open its doors at 8 a.m. The community is invited to attend a ribbon cutting and flag raising ceremony at 4. The opening ceremonies will be followed by an official Board of Selectmen meeting, scheduled at 5:30 at the Community Center.

Parks and Recreation Director Vint Choiniere said members of the community are encouraged to tour the new facility, ask questions, and enjoy refreshments as the town celebrates the opening of our new Community Center.

Although a great deal of time and effort went into establishing operational policies and procedures, Choiniere said he fully anticipate the need to make adjustments and modifications to procedures and schedules once the facility is open. "We encourage involvement, input, and suggestions from members of the community and the many user groups who will enjoy the use of the Community Center. We ask for the community’s patience, understanding, and assistance to make the transition into our new facility as smooth and efficient as possible," he said.

The Community Center will be open from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays. Special requests to use the Community Center can also be made for other hours, particularly on Saturdays and Sundays. A Parks and Recreation Department staff member will be in the building during all scheduled activity.

Registrations for activities conducted at the Community Center will follow the existing Parks and Recreation Department procedure, which allows anyone to be eligible to register. Non-residents are assessed a slightly greater registration fee than residents of Meredith. Residents of Meredith receive priority if a program receives more registrations than it can accommodate. People of all ages are encouraged to register for activities at the Community Center. As always students from Center Harbor and Sandwich are welcome and are encouraged to participate at the Community Center.

Choiniere said there will not be a membership fee to use the Community Center but some but not all individual programs will require a registration fee. This policy is consistent with the current structure of program offerings from the Parks and Recreation Department.

Choiniere listed the types of rooms and space available as follows:

— Activity Center (100’ x 60’) Multi Purpose Floor. . one main basketball court. . .two side basketball courts. . .(All hoops are height adjustable fiberglass backboards). . .one tennis court. . .one main volleyball court. . .two side volleyball courts. . .three badminton courts. . .divider to separate the Activity Center into two spaces. . .two scoreboards. . .two bleacher sections. . .sound system. . .24’ high x 20’ wide climbing wall. . .and stage.

— Game Room, with. . .ping pong table. . .pool table. . .other table games. . .board games. . .comfortable seating, couch, and tables. . .entertainment center. . .and book case.

— Arts and crafts room.

— Large meeting room which can be divided into three sections.

— Patio off meeting rooms.

— Kitchen.

— Reception area (Register for programs, obtain information)

— Parks and Recreation Department office space.

— Meredith Senior Services office

— Meredith Senior Meals on Wheels Program.

Choiniere said all of the existing programs being offered by the Parks and Recreation Department will be dramatically improved by the Community Center. New programs will include: After school program, full-day camp, sports clinics, climbing wall instruction, floor hockey, indoor soccer, many types of instructional classes, computer instruction, open drop in times, and more.

"We encourage anyone with program ideas to share them with us," said Choiniere. " We will be looking for input from students and people of all ages to make the Community Center a safe and fun place to be, filled with great activities. We will strive toward creating an atmosphere making the Community Center a place where people feel really comfortable and want to visit often."

Choiniere said his department is offering drop in times for both the Activity Center and the game room, where people of all ages can enjoy the Community Center and choose some of their own activities. All drop in times will be free. All drop in participants must sign in at the front desk. The following drop in schedule (Monday-Friday) will begin on April 3:

— Grades 4 through 8. . .game room from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. . . Activity Center from 3:35 to 4 p.m.

— Grades 9 through 12. . .game room from 7 to 8:45 p.m. . . Activity Center from 2:20 to 3:35 p.m.

— Family (grade 3 and under with adult). . .4:40 to 7 p.m.

The Community Center will be operated and maintained by the Meredith Parks and Recreation Department. For more information please contact Choiniere at 279-8197 or at "vchoiniere@meredithnh.org", or contact Program Director Rick Desharnais at 279-8197 or at "rdesharnais@meredithnh.org".

Any group or individual requesting the use of the Meredith Community Center is asked to complete a Community Center Use Permit currently available at the Town Hall. The Parks and Recreation Department will make every effort to return your request within four business days.

Choiniere said the Board of Selectmen has established priorities for the scheduling of the Community Center and has created seven categories of user groups. Rental fees and priority of scheduling have been assigned to the seven user groups as follows: No.1, Town of Meredith; No. 2, Meredith non-profits; No. 3, private Meredith resident; No. 4, Meredith for profit; No. 5, State of New Hampshire/Federal Agency; No. 6, Non-Meredith non-profit; No. 7, private non-meredith resident.

The scheduling criteria will apply to outdoor facilities such as ball fields as well. No rental fees will be assessed user groups falling within the categories of Town of Meredith, Meredith non-profit, or State/Federal Agency. A nominal fee will be assessed to all other user groups. Please call the Parks and Recreation Department at 279-8197 for the fee schedule.

Choiniere said Parks and Recreation has now assumed the responsibility of performing facility maintenance of the Community Center, Circle Drive Park, Prescott Park, Childs Park, Waukewan Highlands Community Park, Waukewan Beach, and Leavitt Beach. Any maintenance related question should be made with the Parks and Recreation Department located at the Community Center at 279-8197.