The Town of Newburgh held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday for its new recreation center at Chadwick Lake Park, bringing the long-awaited facility one step closer to opening.

Town Supervisor Gil Piaquadio thanked those involved in completing the recreation center, including the Town of Newburgh Recreation Department, town staff, elected officials and construction companies. He also thanked the Newburgh Enlarged City School District for allowing the summer camp that usually takes place in Chadwick Lake Park to relocate to Meadow Hill School during construction.

U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., could not attend but sent District Director Johanna Contreras in his place. Ryan later released a statement saying, “This community center is decades in the making, and it would not have been possible without our joint advocacy at every level. ... Whether it’s kids gathering for a game of pickup basketball, families utilizing the exercise room or folks coming together to race the track, I know this brand new rec center is going to be a staple of the Town of Newburgh community for years to come.”

State Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson also sent a staff member to congratulate the town.

State Sen. Robert Rolison and Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta attended in person. Rolison called the building “the most magnificent recreation building in this district” and said, “This building represents who you are, who you will always be, and how you want to live in the Town of Newburgh.”

Arteta congratulated everyone involved and said, “It’s time that we take care of our youth, the ones that are gonna represent us in the future and take care of us.”

Dr. Jackielyn Manning-Campbell, Superintendent of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District called the new recreation center “spectacular” and said, “This ... space will give them an amazing home where they can be safe, they can try different activities, they can make new friends, and they can build lasting memories for a lifetime.” She said the school district is in discussions with the town about using the recreation center for district activities, though no concrete plans have been announced.

The recreation center features a large central room with two wood-floored basketball courts, an indoor turf soccer field and a walking track around the fields. To the right of the central room, a hallway leads to three public rooms: a large multipurpose room, an exercise room and a children’s room. To the left is the recreation department offices, which include a plaque honoring Betty Greene, a former town councilmember who died in 2024.

The recreation center will not open to the public for several weeks. Hours of operation and programming have not been announced, though some programming is planned to move from the Desmond Center to the new recreation center. Town of Newburgh residents should check the town and recreation department websites for updates.