Helena community center to open this summer

Published 4:36 pm Monday, February 23, 2009

By the end of the summer, Helena’s Ruffin Road will have a community center for indoor sports to add to the ball fields already there.

Workers are bricking up the community sports and recreational center this week, said City Councilmember Cris Nelson.

“It’s still got a long way to go, but it’s come a long way,” she said. “The exterior is up. They’re working on the cosmetics of the exterior, but the interior is where the focus is now.”

Once the center’s done, it’ll house a basketball court and an indoor walking track, as well as meeting rooms and a banquet room. There are also plans in the works for indoor soccer, Nelson said.

The total cost for the center will be $2 million, which comes from a bond fund the city purchased in 2005. A name has not been chosen yet for the center.

The community center will help Helena be more accommodating for families, Nelson said.

“It’s going to be huge. Obviously, Helena needed a children’s activity center. That’s kind of what sets Helena apart — we have a lot of children’s programs, and this will allow children to do more in Helena,” she said. “Once we get it open, we will be very surprised at just how busy it stays.”