Town of Jay Community Center coming into fruition

AU SABLE FORKS | What was once a school is now turning into a welcoming, multi-use space for local residents of all ages. "One of the most exciting developments [in town] has been the growing use of the Town of Jay Community Center," said Supervisor Matt Stanley. "[We've been] setting the tone for a more active building year-round." On the first level, there are renovated municipal offices, the town court, and ADA-compliant bathrooms with showers. There's also the Senior Center, which also serves as a meeting room and a certified cooling room. "That's why we have the AC running in there all the time," Stanley explains. "So, if somebody's coming in to beat the heat, they can come here to cool down." The Senior Center can also be used by those looking to cool down after playing basketball or pickleball in the gym. Thanks to a $5,000 donation through the Missing Children's Basketball Tournament, new maroon curtains were recently installed to improve both the appearance and functionality of the space, said Stanley. In the future, he would like to host public movie screenings and shows on the existing stage in the gym, which is the new home of a mini grand piano that Andre d'Avignon donated. Also downstairs is the museum. Plans are in place to move the museum upstairs to the location previously occupied by Head Start/Early Head Start to provide Town Historian Sharron Hewston with more space. More information on the move will be available in the next edition of The Sun. Once the museum moves, Stanley said the code enforcement office, which is currently located behind the tax collector's office, will move in there for convenience purposes, as it will be closer to the assessor's office. Besides the museum, once it moves, the upstairs consists of storage rooms, two rentable rooms that are currently being occupied by Lindsay Kellet's Youth Gymnastics Program, and the Community Day Use Room, which is still under renovation. So far, the communal space features a rug and a pool table, which Vic Putnam donated. Soon, a ping pong table, which was purchased by the Essex County Office for the Aging, will be set up. "Eventually, I'd like to get some computers up there so that people can use them and access the internet," Stanley said. "Nobody's come to ask for it yet, but I just think it may be a useful thing." The Community Day Use Room is presently open to the public for informational gatherings, games, meetings, and more. Those who wish to reserve the space can contact the town directly. No other rooms throughout the building are currently available for reserving or renting. "We've still got a lot to do, but I'm incredibly proud of how far we've come," Stanley said. "Whether it's through infrastructure improvements, new community programs, or simply making our spaces more welcoming and functional, we're working every day to build a stronger, more vibrant Town of Jay." For more information or updates, visit townofjayny.gov.

Signup for our newsletter

Town of Jay Community Center coming into fruition

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS