Community Celebrates Trowbridge Recreation Center Grand Opening, Trowbridge Square Park Revitalization

The long-vacant, 100-year-old building was renovated, "reactivated," with new programming for New Haven youth, seniors, and families: Mayor.

By Ellyn Santiago, Patch Staff

Sep 9, 2026 11:44 AM EDT

The ribbon was cut. The $3.8M project abated, repaired, and transformed the interior of the 7,900-SF facility: new and modern with a half-court gym, multipurpose room, art and music rooms, movement classes, food pantry, offices, and bathrooms. (City of New Haven)

NEW HAVEN, CT — Tuesday, the renovated Trowbridge Recreation Center, the Hill's community gathering space, was celebrated.

The long vacant, 100-year-old historic building has been "reactivated" with new programming for New Haven youth, seniors, and families, according to New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker.

The mayor was joined in a grand opening ceremony by State Representative Juan Candelaria, Alder Carmen Rodriguez, Giovanni Zinn, New Haven City Engineer, Dr. Gwendolyn B. Williams, Director, New Haven Youth and Recreation Department, Tomi Veale, Director, New Haven Elderly Services Department, Max Webster, Director, New Haven Parks Department, and Shenae Draughn, President, Elm City Communities.

According to Elicker's office, the $3.8 million project—financed through a combination of city and state funds—abated, repaired, and transformed the interior of the 7,900-square-foot facility into a new, modern facility with a half-court gym, multipurpose room, rooms for art, music, and movement classes, a food pantry, and offices and bathrooms.

The $3.8M project, financed through city and state funds, abated, repaired, and transformed the interior of the 7,900-SF facility: new, modern with a half-court gym, multipurpose room, art and music rooms, movement classes, food pantry, offices and bathrooms.

The historic facade and exterior of the building were also repaired and restored. In addition, Trowbridge Square Park, just across the street from the center, has also been updated to include additional playscape equipment, renovated paths and an interpretive historical display and banners commemorating the history of the Trowbridge Square Historic District, as part of the Union Square neighborhood planning process.

Originally built in 1925, the Trowbridge building was initially a school and then the Hill Cooperative Youth Services, colloquially known as "The Barbell Club," and the site of afterschool and summer programs for youth—but was closed and boarded up in 2008.

In 2022, Elicker announced a new initiative to activate eight new youth and community centers at underutilized city buildings in neighborhoods across the city, including the old Barbell Club.