Fundraiser now underway for Ausable-Chesterfield-Keeseville Civic Center

KEESEVILLE | A team of dedicated individuals is looking to raise $40,000 to complete a much-needed gym renovation inside the Ausable-Chesterfield-Keeseville Civic Center. The funds raised will go towards scraping the damaged surfaces, replastering the walls and ceiling areas, and repainting the entire gym. "Over time, wear and tear has taken its toll; peeling paint and deteriorating plaster not only impact the appearance of the facility, but also create potential safety concerns," stated volunteer Alayna Joy, who started the online fundraiser on Vertical Raise earlier this month. "Our goal is to restore the gym to a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for the entire community, especially the kids who practice, compete, and build lifelong memories here." A community meeting is scheduled for March 4 at 3 p.m. at the civic center so that attendees can learn more about the fundraising program, meet the community, and find out how they can help. So far, some work has been done on the gym. New padding was installed on the end walls, the existing bleachers were removed, and the floor was replaced. Curtains were lined along the back of the existing stage, and they'll remain up until the renovations are complete. About $40,000 was spent on the new gym floor alone, which is lined to accommodate different sports — black lines for basketball, blue lines for volleyball, and green lines for pickleball, said Bruce Garcia, a member of Friends of the Ausable-Chesterfield-Keeseville Civic Center. A little over $15,000 was saved by volunteers tearing up the existing flooring themselves. These renovations took place about a year ago. Shortly afterwards, Open Gym launched on Sundays from noon to 2 p.m., where residents of the towns of Ausable and Chesterfield can come and play either basketball, volleyball, or pickleball. There are also coloring and other craft activities offered. Volunteer Christina Dominy is currently looking for tabletop games, such as foosball and air hockey, to add to the gym stage to offer youth something else to do during Open Gym. "There's really nowhere in town to hang out and do things, especially when it's colder out. That's why we are trying to be as accommodating as possible for the people who do come on Sundays," Joy said. "And that's why having the civic center as a whole is such a big deal." Once the gym renovations are completed, the civic center will be able to offer even more than it does currently. From hosting a farmers' market to using the gym stage for theater productions, the possibilities are endless. Renovations to the 55,000-square-foot brick-and-mortar building began about five years ago with a roof replacement. A brand-new boiler system was installed downstairs, and now the downstairs bathrooms are being renovated. Several of the rooms were updated to accommodate current tenants, including the JCEO (Joint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton and Franklin Counties, Inc.) and Dynamix Fitness & Wellness. "I've been on this committee since 2010, and it took us a long time to reach a point where we could really make significant progress," Garcia said. "There are still several projects we have left to do, but we're off to a great start." One project on the horizon is turning the former library upstairs into a designated community space. In order to do so, however, an elevator needs to be put in to make it handicap accessible. A lift has already been installed so that those with mobility issues can access the gym. "This building is such an asset to the community," Garcia said. "And if we continue to maintain it, it will be here for another 100 years or so." For more information or to make a donation, visit app.verticalraise.com/fundraiser/austable-chesterfield-keensville-civic-center-facility-renovation-fundraiser.

Signup for our newsletter

Fundraiser now underway for Ausable-Chesterfield-Keeseville Civic Center

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS