BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Bethlehem Mayor William Reynolds said the South Side Community Center will bring everyone together.
“One of the things that people have talked about for a long time was just the lack of a recreation center, the lack of a community center in south Bethlehem,” said Mayor Reynolds.
In a video, the city announced it will be working with River Crossing YMCA and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley to plan the South Side Community Center.
The center will be built alongside the Bethlehem Greenway on Mechanic Street between Webster and Taylor streets.
“For us, this is an extension of our community schools work into the neighborhood,” said Marci Lesko, president and CEO of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.
“We’re so excited to be a part of this project. Our mission is to serve our communities with program services and membership to provide opportunities to develop spirit, mind and body,” said Zane Moore, president and CEO of River Crossing YMCA.
The city is allocating $1 million toward the estimated $15 million project.
According to the Mayor, the center will come with a basketball court and flex space for all to use.
“I think there’s a lot of isolation and I think people right now are feeling that they need to be connected,” said Mayor Reynolds.
It will be just blocks away from the Flying V, which Matt Vymazal owns.
“I think it’s amazing. Anytime that there’s a possibility for the community to get together, it’s wonderful and when the city is involved and can help out with that, even better,” said Vymazal.
The United Way said you can donate toward the project on its website.
“I hope people take away the fact that the community was involved in the design and the vision of this work and so it’s our great honor to watch that vision come to life,” said Lesko.
The Mayor said he is hoping to announce a timeline for the project in the near future.