NEW LONDON – It’s been years in the making, but on Wednesday the City of New London dedicated its new Community Recreational Center.
Hundreds of local residents along with local, state and business leaders sat in scorching temperatures outside as a ribbon was cut by the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut before heading inside to the center’s main gymnasium where there were speeches.
Mayor Mike Passero said it wasn’t just his dream, “this is the remarkable achievement of a community that shared a common goal. It was a long, long time coming, but we have proven that a dream like this one that is shared by an entire community will come true.”
Passero said he could only think of one other time the city and community came together on a project of this scale.
“ That was the opening of Ocean Beach Park in 1940. And like Ocean Beach Park, this facility will quickly become a key component of our city’s identity. This center will be the place we will go for community, comradery, friendship, wellbeing, healing, and health.”
The project was not without controversy, with an original cost estimate of $30 million, Passero said that figure quickly escalated during the Covid pandemic as supply chain issues and the cost of materials went up overnight.
The final cost for the center is around $42 million with the City of New London footing $30 million of that figure and the remainder split between state and federal grants.
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz attended the ceremony and spoke to why the state had stepped in to help.
“We invested because we believe in New London. And as I look at this beautiful crowd, I see people from every walk of life, from younger to older, from every background. I’m looking at Connecticut and this community is vibrant because of all of you. And we invested because we also believe in the leadership of Mayor Passero and his council team.”
The new center is expected to be self-sustaining with local residents paying member fees and with additional financial support from Lawrence + Memorial Hospital and Chelsea Groton Bank.
Both companies have sunk undisclosed sums of money into the center for naming rights.
“ I am proud to announce that Yale New Haven Health and Lawrence Memorial will be a legacy partner for this facility,” said Paul Mounds for Yale New Haven Health/Lawrence+Memorial Hospital.
“ That would include the naming of the full second floor as the Yale New Haven Health, Lawrence and Memorial Hospital Health and Wellness Corridor,” Mounds said. “As a legacy partner, we are committed to a long-term investment in this facility that will mirror our mission, vision and values, and care and include access to opportunities and support for all that call New London and the greater new London region home.”
Anthony Joice, President and CEO of Chelsea Groton Bank announced his company had made a sizeable donation to the center for the naming rights of the gymnasium.
But the biggest surprise reveal came at the end, when Felix Reyes, Director of Economic Development for the city of New London, spoke.
An emotional Reyes was the last to address the crowd.
“ Wow! This is quite overwhelming. I wrote stuff down. You think you’re going to just follow a speech, but I’m just going to speak from the heart. I’m coming today from a place of just gratitude, honestly, overjoyed, and thankful for everyone showing up, right? You can build something, but it doesn’t mean anything if no one shows up. So, thank you for showing up everybody. Thank you.”
Reyes played up his and several others in the crowd New London roots. “We’re just some kids from New London doing something special. We’re going to set the next generation. Because all these kids from New London, they’re doing something special now.”
And then he turned to one person in particular, Tyson Wheeler, a New London native and a former NBA player, now an assistant coach at Brown University in Rhode Island.
“ Tyson, our hearts and this whole community is with you. We know you’ve been through some things and your family have been through some things, and we love you and you’re one of the proudest achievements and accomplishments from this city.”
Wheeler lost his 24-year-old daughter, Tiara, in 2023.
“ You were the best man. I was the kid that got to watch you, man. You were the best. And there was something special that we want to do for you today.” Said Reyes
As the Wheeler family gathered on a covered part of the gymnasium floor, Reyes announced to everyone that the court was being dedicated to Wheeler and his late daughter as a tribute to the Wheeler family.
The new recreation center is based at Fort Trumbull and abuts land that was taken by the city in the landmark eminent domain case of Kelo v. City of New London, which just happens to be 20 years old this year and the center will officially open to the public on July 8.
Details about the new center can be found here.