Newtown Community Center Opens With Ribbon Cutting

NEWTOWN, CT — The Newtown Community Center that has been in the making for more than six years had its official opening Friday to a packed crowd of community members.

The center located at the Fairfield Hills campus has a six-lane lap pool and activity pool along with banquet space and multi-purpose rooms that can be rented out for parties and other special events. It is combined with a senior center wing.

GE announced in 2013 that it would donate $15 million to the town to help establish the center following the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

“It’s been a long journey beginning in March 2013 and a conversation with Martha Poulter, Newtown resident and GE executive,” said former First Selectman Pat Llordra, who was in office during the 2012 shooting. “I know as many of you do how difficult this journey has been. The fact that we are here today is testimony to the power of persistence, patience, tolerance and compromise. The vision for something good has prevailed.”

Current First Selectman Dan Rosenthal thanked the innumerable number of people who helped make the center a reality, including members of the committee who helped guide the vision of the center.

“It’s important that we always remember the 26 beautiful souls that aren’t with us today,” he said. “For their families it’s a struggle and I know I speak for all of us in saying we would give everything and all of this to undo the pain and turn back time.”

Membership is open to residents and non-residents with residents paying a lower rate. The monthly rate for a family is $41 in-town, seniors are $18 individually or $32 per couple and daily passes are $8. There are also categories for adults, teens and other rates, including discounted rates based on household income.

Membership includes unlimited access to the six-lane pool, recreational pool and spray bay, discounted space rental and discounted other programs among other benefits.