Arlington Street Community Center Celebrates New Nashua Court

NASHUA, NH — It did not take long Friday night for the Anagnost Sport Court at the Arlington Street Community Center to start filling the role that community center officials hope it will in the Crown Hill neighborhood of the city. About 15 minutes after a public grand opening ceremony for the multi-use court, three neighborhood children came over and shot some hoops at the brand new baskets.

"The donation of the new Anagnost Sport Court really falls in line with what this center is all about," Arlington Street Community Center Director Meg Caron said. "This has been built for the community, by the community. We are so excited to offer this amenity to the Crown Hill neighborhood and beyond."

Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess and members of the Board of Alderman were on hand Friday night for the ribbon-cutting ceremony that included some shots at the basket with residents, a Chuck-A-Ball contest and a 50/50 raffle with ticket proceeds going to community center programs. Caron said the courts are a welcomed addition to the community center project.

"The Arlington Street Community Center opened two years ago as a result of collective effort of several of our impassioned community leaders, many of which were here with us (for the grand opening)," Caron said.

Dick Anagnost, president of Anagnost Companies, donated $26,500 for the installation of the court.

The court is a partially fenced-in space for basketball and futsal designed for use of those in the Crown Hill neighborhood and beyond. The hope is that it will become a center for social activity and social engagement in the neighborhood.