The Tonya Keller Community Center in Middletown opened its freshly renovated doors to the community.
Director of Recreation Janet Dellett said the updates that were made to the community center have been ongoing for the past eight years, which she said included a total “facelift” to the Middletown recreation center.
Complete with a preschool art exhibit and a visit from public officials, the May 23 event drew in dozens of members from the community as Dellett presented the changes that were made to the popular recreation facility.
“We thought now would be a really great time to welcome the community inside to see everything. We have coupled that with our first preschool art show,” Dellett said.
Township Administrator Tony Mercantante is credited with the suggestion of using the profits from housing and urban development money that was awarded to the township toward the renovation of the community center, Dellett said.
“I was beyond excited,” Dellet said.
Dellet said staff updated the establishments “curb appeal,” replacing the walkway in front of the building, the doorways located both inside and outside the facility, the implementation of an outdoor bulletin board, an electronic sign and the addition of a community garden.
“On the inside, we also decided to cover up this really awesome 1970’s paneling,” she laughed. “There have been a lot of physical improvements to make it (The Tonya Keller Community Center) look a lot nicer.”
Dellet said among all of the “exciting” changes taking place at the recreation center, it only made sense to update the name of the facility’s preschool program. She said the program has been renamed the “Middletown Preschool.”
Spectators gathered outside for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting on the establishment’s front steps. Middletown Deputy Mayor Kevin Settembrino was given the honor of cutting the ribbon – children from the facility’s preschool program were at his side.
“How great does it feel to be in this place after it’s done?” Settembrino said as he reflected on the time and effort that went into the eight-year renovation process. “How great does it feel that someone else paid for this?” he laughed.
The Middletown Preschool offers programs for children ages 18 months to pre-kindergarden.
