Kids of all ages gave sweaty, enthusiastic thumbs-up to Auburn’s new 9,850-square-foot gymnasium and activity center Tuesday night, rocking and rolling with its first games of badminton, basketball, floor hockey and more.
“It’s really big,” said Jared Bernardo, 12, breathless from jumping up and down inside the kiddies’ indoor playground hauled in for the occasion. “I like basketball and all the games they have – and the bouncy house.”
“It’s just cool and open,” said Camaeron Engen, 12, who plans to stop there for after-school basketball.
City officials dedicated the facility at Les Gove Park, 910 9th St. SE, giving the public its first look one week ahead of the official opening day.
The City of Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation Department will oversee operations of the new facility. Participants can drop in to a variety of programs scheduled throughout the year, including open gym basketball and volleyball, a teen after-school program, an indoor playground designed for ages 5 and under, family nights, and rock climbing instruction.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen it, and it’s wonderful,” said Auburn School Board President Craig Schumaker. “A partnership between the City and the district would be great, and we could run some activities buses over here.”
“It connects up parts of Auburn: it connects the youth who will soon be taking over the teen center on this (east) side with our seniors at the senior center on this (west) side,” said Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis.
Daryl Faber, director of Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation, noted that the building had originally been slated for opening June 24, but an especially wet winter and spring played havoc with those best-laid plans.
BLRB Architects, a Tacoma-based architectural firm, designed the building and general contractor Christensen Inc. built it.
As part of the project, the City commissioned a public art piece, a two-panel, 13-by-13-foot, painted steel artwork by artist Bruce Myers representing the local landscape. Flanking each side of the climbing wall, the most recent addition to the City’s Public Art Collection. references the elevation of landscape as the climbers ascend. The seating boulders surrounding the wall are a physical reminder of the natural settings where the sport of climbing began.
Organized programs include futsal (an indoor soccer league), volleyball and basketball leagues, specialized recreation leagues, and preschool sport classes. Additionally, birthday party packages are offered using the gymnasium as an activity center complete with a party host, pizza or a birthday cake, and treat bags for birthday party guests. The facility also will be available for rentals and other special events.
The new activity center and gymnasium complements the 21-acre recreational and educational Les Gove Community Campus that serves the entire community. The cluster of amenities includes a library, Parks and Recreation Administration Building, Senior Activity Center and White River Valley Museum.
