Whitpain's plans from a Blue Bell-based community center continue. (Image courtesy of Whitpain Township)
The additional funds bring a budget to over $13 million, according to supervisors
A new community center is coming to Whitpain Township, and thanks to a $1.7 million check via state funding, it will be underway very soon.
As previously reported on Wissahickon Now, state senators Maria Collett (of the 12th district covering portions of Montgomery County) and Liz Hanbidge (of the 61st district, covering portions of Montgomery County) were proud to announce the grant funds in a recent round of announcements.
Local leadership was also happy to have the helping hand.
“On behalf of my fellow Board members, I would like to thank State Senator Maria Collett, and State Representatives Matt Bradford and Liz Hanbidge, for their continued support for our community center,” said Board Chair Scott Badami said in a recent Whitpain Wire community newsletter.
Badami said that funds exceed the $13 million mark, and that new updates on the project are coming soon.
“With the additional $1.7 million from this grant, and the interest gained from our initial $10 million donation, we will have approximately $13 million to build our community center,” said Badami. “We look forward to providing an update for everyone in Whitpain early in 2025.”
The Board had its last update on a location choice in February of 2024. Then, the supervisors announced the center would be positioned in place of the dog park in Centre Square Park. The existing dog park is slated to be relocated prior to the start of the center’s construction project. A summary of public comment is available online as part of the special meeting’s approved minutes.
As Badami referenced in his newest comments on the matter, a previous donation of $10 million initially spearheaded the concept. The donation was received near the end of 2022 in exchange for naming rights. As of September 2023, when the board held a special meeting on the center, interest had already topped $200,000 as the township investing the funds to date.
The community center is slated to be placed within Centre Square Park, which is located at 1527 Yost Road in Blue Bell.
“These grants represent a significant investment in our communities, enhancing educational facilities, supporting communal wellness and creating spaces that bring people together,” Hanbidge said. “From modernized classrooms to community centers with accessible amenities, this funding ensures that students, families, and residents of all ages can benefit from high-quality, safe, and inclusive spaces. I’m proud to support these projects, which will uplift our communities for years to come.”
“Investments in our academic institutions are critical to student safety and success,” said Collett. “I was proud to support funding for these two stellar schools, allowing them to upgrade aging infrastructure, improve accessibility, and modernize classrooms so every student can thrive.”
Funding for the projects was administered by the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). This Pennsylvania grant program funds the design, acquisition, and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects have a regional impact and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity. RACP projects are state-funded projects that cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs.
For more on the Whitpain Community Center project, visit https://www.whitpaintownship.org/461/Community-Center-Project.
