A Man's Dream To See New Multisport Facility On North Fork Comes True

CUTCHOGUE, NY — One man's longtime quest to provide a multisports facility on the North Fork has been realized.

For years, Joe Slovak fought tirelessly alongside Paul Pawlowski to see the concept for Sports East become a reality on Main Road in Mattituck. But, despite pleas of the public for such a facility, some in the community stood in opposition to the location — and the Southold Town zoning board of appeals put the brakes on the proposed project.

Slovak, however, never saw his hopes dimmed.

And, after years of pouring his heart into a long-held dream, Slovak saw his vision take shape when he opened the Gym Days Multisport facility at the NoFo Wellness Center, located at 320 Depot Lane in Cutchogue.

"I never fully closed the door on my idea of a multisport facility after it was clear Sports East was no longer viable," Slovak told Patch. "I would constantly think about ways I could make it happen and always kept digging around. Until, finally, my wife saw a post on Facebook from the NoFo Wellness Center inquiring if anyone was interested in leasing space they had for sports-related activities."

Slovak said he then met with Andrea Esposito, who owns the NoFo Wellness Center. "She shared with me her vision of a kind of collaborative where heathy and wellness services would be offered at the center," he said. "I saw the space, envisioned what I could do with it — and made the decision on the spot that I could do something with it."

He added: "As a result of the process of trying to get Sports East, I met so many amazing people of all ages that were enthusiastic about the possibility of a local sports facility. To think we could bring so much joy and positivity to our community was overwhelming and inspiring. That feeling never left, it only meant there was work that needed to be done."

As a longtime physical education teacher, Slovak said seeing the effects of recreation and wellness has had on his students only fueled his energy.

Once the location was secured, Slovak began working on renovations; the space was originally two big, separate areas with white walls and gym floors, he said. In December of 2023, that space included wall mats in both play areas, as well as basketball hoops, acoustic carpet for the walls, and artificial turf for one of the rooms, while keeping the gym floor in the other, he said.

Pawlowski, he said, is not involved with his venture; his idea for Sports East was originally shared with Steve Marsh and later, with Pawlowski, Slovak said.

"We all participated in sports and wanted to share our passion with the community," he said. "Sports brought us together — and we definitely had a great team in our attempts to succeed."

And although that vision never materialized, it sparked Slovak's conviction to move forward with a plan that he knew in his heart was needed on the North Fork.

Today, Gym Days offers many sports and activities including soccer, pickleball, volleyball, hockey, basketball, Gaga ball, modified tennis, and many skill acquisition lessons and clinics, he said. Also available are activities that include parachute, dodgeball, tag games, and many elements of a primary and intermediate physical education curriculum.

Slovak said Gym Days also offers summer camps, school break camps, lessons, clinics and court rentals, seven days a week. He also plans to offer recreation nights, leagues, movie nights and programs for adults and toddlers.

"The space is perfect for so much, including movies projected on a 20-foot wide wall," he said.

Gym Days isn't just for kids, he added. "We have senior citizens, adults, high school, and elementary school kids, along with children as young as 3."

The journey has been long but meaningful — and all the residents who buoyed his spirits and dreams inspired his mission, Slovak said.

"All that positive energy fueled my desire to see something like this through. It was a no-brainer.
As a teacher for 27 years, and living a life full of sports and meeting wonderful people through sports, the combination was so powerful."

And, he said, the business is a culmination of all that has defined his life's work. "It’s what I do!" he said. "I’m fortunate to be able to channel my passion for sports and wellness into a career of helping others. Gym Days is a natural extension of what I do on a broader scale."

Stepping inside the facility never ceases to inspire. "I love being at Gym Days, whether it’s working with people or working on the facility. It’s a dream come true, honestly. Andrea is on the same page — and her tireless energy is contagious."

He added: "It’s so exciting! At times, I’ve got to remind myself, 'Rome wasn’t built in a day.' My goal is to make it a happy place with something for everyone."

Slovak said he even looks forward to retirement. "Not because I don’t love what I do, but because I can spend even more time at Gym Days."

With daughters in college, Slovak and his wife are empty nesters. "It's pretty much Mary and I — and Gym Days," he said.

Reflecting on the journey, Slovak said: "I’ve never believed in the 'everything happens for a reason' philosophy. That is to say, you have to be so motivated and excited about your vision that roadblocks and obstacles are just learning experiences that actually encourage you to fight and work harder. It’s easy to give up, but if your goal is so near and dear to you, nothing else matters."

And for Slovak, that translate into hands-on involvement: "I’ve done virtually everything by myself, installing the basketball hoops, the mats on the walls, the artificial turf, and pretty much everything else you see."

He hopes to instill that same passion for his dreams, in his students: "If your dream is so real and true, the saying, 'If there’s a will, there’s a way,' definitely represents my views."

Gym Days Multisport is located at the NoFo Wellness Center, 320 Depot Lane, in Cutchogue. For additional information, click here or call 631-682-0890. The facility is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays and Sundays.