Arlington Completes Community Center Construction, Celebrates Reopening

ARLINGTON, MA — The Town of Arlington has completed construction on the Community Center Renovation Project and is inviting community members to attend a ribbon cutting event to celebrate the reopening on Thursday, May 5 at 5 p.m.

The event will feature remarks from Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine, Director of Planning and Community Development Jennifer Raitt, Council on Aging Director Kristine Shah, and representatives from the Council on Aging Board and the Select Board.

A brief tour featuring an overview of the building renovations and improvements will follow and refreshments will be provided.

The Community Center Renovation Project was guided and overseen by the Department of Planning and Community Development with management support provided by the Permanent Town Building Committee. The property, also known as the Central School, is managed by the Arlington Redevelopment Board.

In 2015, the town created the Central School Feasibility Study Group, composed of representatives from Health and Human Services, Arlington Redevelopment Board, Town Manager’s Office, Arlington Seniors Association, Council on Aging, and Capital Planning Committee. Sterling Associates Inc. Architects (SAIA) was hired to conduct a feasibility study and, in 2017, the Town then hired Vertex as the Owner’s Project Manager and SAIA as the architect. The project was bid in 2019.

Work on the building began in March 2020 and, after two years of phased work, the Arlington Community Center reopened in March. The project cost $8.55 million in town capital funds and the Council on Aging and Arlington Seniors Association raised more than $170,000 from the community for the Center's new furnishings. The Cafe, Library, Art Room, Pool Room, and Yoga Room were sponsored by local families and businesses.

For additional questions and information about the new Community Center and rentable spaces, contact Jennifer Raitt at 781-316-3092 or Kristine Shah at 781-316-3400.