A dream that started a few years ago is beginning to turn into a reality – and things are happening fast.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Northern Blair Recreation Center is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 28 at the site, located adjacent to DelGrosso’s Amusement Park in Antis Township. It will be there that the seven member NBCRC Board of Directors and Sen. Robert Jubelirer and state Rep. Larry Sather will stick their shovels in the ground, officially breaking ground for the multi-million dollar project.
“Without Jubelirer and Sather’s help with this project, it would have never happened,” said Ray Amato, a member of the NBCRC board. “This is the best thing that has happened to Blair County in a long time and everyone involved is proud to be a part of that.”
The project has come a long way since plans were approved by the Antis Township Board of Supervisors a few months ago.
The committee of seven working on the project, known as the Northern Blair County Recreation Commission, has been dedicated. This group of local citizens is a non-profit corporation with a goal of building a recreation center and adjacent facilities to provide recreational opportunities for the youth and citizens of Northern Blair County.
Since its inception, the group has garnered support from multiple local municipalities, state and local government agencies, local state senators (Jubelirer) and representatives (Sather) and the local communities.
In the spring of 2001, the NBCRC received a $500,000 grant from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development.
In addition, the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation sold a 15-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Little Juniata River. Later, the Township of Antis donated even more land to the project, giving it a total area of about 50 acres.
The main part of the center will be a 100-by-160 foot, year-round indoor recreation center. Inside, there will be locker rooms for both men and women, a large weight room, a basketball court a kitchen, a multi-purpose room, a game room, and plenty of office space.
The outside of the facility will hold a number of recreational areas, including two soccer fields, a youth center, a basketball court, a baseball field, pavilions, plenty of bleacher space and close to 200 parking spaces. There is also a 70-by-100 foot area reserved for future expansion.
Amato also said the group is working with the state in hopes of creating a walking trail around the area that will run along the Little Juniata River in hopes of beginning an education program. He said he hopes Penn State University will join in this effort.
Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors, Bruno DeGol Jr. points out that this groundbreaking is a result of three years of long hard efforts by groups of dedicated local residents, in order to position Northern Blair County and, most importantly, its families and children for the next generation.
DeGol notes that funding sources have included the state Department of Community and Economic Development, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and by donations from local citizens and businesses.
“Without a comprehensive, cooperative effort, we wouldn’t be able to achieve this goal,” said DeGol.
“We’re really doing good things here in Blair County and this recreation center is one of them,” said Amato. “It’s in a good, centralized location for the kids of northern Blair County. Everyone is excited…and they should be.”
The public is invited to attend the ceremony at the site, located along state Route 220 between Bellwood and Tipton.
