The new floor of the gymnasium is sparkling. Photo from the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh.
Just days after adopting a bruising budget that will cause layoffs and tax hikes for residents of the city of Newburgh, city leaders invite the public to find a bit of the Thanksgiving spirit in the opening of the newly refurbished former National Guard Armory on South William Street. On Friday, November 26, at 1 pm, the United States Army turns over the keys “to the children of the City of Newburgh,” setting the stage for a series of weekend activities in the gymnasium and basketball courts.
With a $100,000 grant from the Kaplan Family Foundation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh took the lead in fixing up the 60,000 square foot brick building, making it handicap accessible and preparing the gymnasium for use. Habitat matched the gift of the Kaplan foundation through donated labor and materials that totaled more than $125,000. W. Chris Hawkins served as engineer and project manager and the IBEW Local363, Laborers’ Local #17, and the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 373 provided professional services.
Friday’s Family Fun Day will be geared to participants of all ages and abilities, from dance and Zumba to yoga and soccer. Double Dutch jump rope, a Newburgh tradition, will also be featured, as well as a Jumping Jack contest, arts and crafts, hand-on science, and face painting.
Basketball and soccer will dominate the courts of the new gymansium this weekend.
Saturday is all about basketball, with more than 200 youth, ages 7-17, participating in basketball clinics and games, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The Newburgh Free Academy Varsity Team is scheduled to demonstrate their winning techniques, along with the Newburgh Police and Fire Departments challenging the community kids at the end of the day. (If history repeats itself, the kids will win.)
An indoor soccer clinic will highlight Sunday’s events from 8 a.m.- 7:45 p.m. More than 400 young people have registered for the clinic.
(IMPORTANT NOTES: All soccer and basketball clinics are full, but spectators
are welcome. No children under 12 will be admitted to weekend events without
parent or guardian.)
More than 250 volunteers are committed to the weekend of free events, dubbed Unity for the Community weekend. Here’s a list of the groups that have come together to make the Armory a true community space:
Dispute Resolution Center
City of Newburgh Police
Latinos Unidos
City of Newburgh Fire Dept.
Salvation Army
Hoops Express
Hands on Community
Pop Warner
PUMAS
Newburgh Enlarged City School District
Newburgh Youth Bureau
Newburgh Zion Lions
Glenn Hines Boys & Girls Club
St. Mary’s Youth Group
Bent on Change Yoga
Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson
Newburgh Real FC Soccer
Carlie’s Crusade Foundation
Greater Newburgh YMCA
Hudson Valley Youth Soccer
YMCA Leaders Club
Healthy Orange
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh
ARK Graphics
Department of Public Works
TEAM Newburgh
Mount Saint Mary College
Orange County Government
SUNY Orange
St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital
NFA
Laborers’ Local 17
IBEW Local 363
Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 373
Loading...
