Double Play Community Center has received $150K in grants

LOWVILLE, N.Y. (WWTI) – Double Play Community Center has transformed a former Lowville restaurant and banquet facility into a full-service community hub that offers comprehensive wellness programs for patrons of all ages, thanks to a pair of Community Foundation grants totaling $150,000, according to a press release.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors approved a $100,000 grant in 2023 to support Double Play’s capital project and a $50,000 grant to build the nonprofit’s endowment fund at the Community Foundation.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony to honor project donors and supporters will be held on Monday, May 6 at 5:30 p.m. , in advance of the new facility opening to the public at 5 a.m. on May 7. A public open house is planned for later this spring.

“It has been wonderful to have worked together with Double Play over the last several years to help them grow, and we are especially pleased to be part of this transformational next step forward for them ,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “ They have worked tirelessly to extend their reach and we are hopeful our investment will continue to advance their ability to impact the health and well-being of local residents of all ages, today and in the future .”

Until now, Double Play has occupied three spaces in the Village of Lowville to operate an array of programs. Recently, it has worked to bring all programming to one location, which came to fruition in late 2022 when the organization finalized purchase of the former Ridge View Inn, which opens Tuesday as Double Play’s new permanent home.

Community Foundation grant support has helped convert the facility into a 10,000-square-foot epicenter for arts, wellness and recreation for youth, families and senior citizens alike.

“ We are beyond grateful for the generous support and continued confidence in our organization to make a difference in people’s lives in the North Country, ”  Double Play Community Center Executive Director Dan Myers said. “ The recent Community Foundation grant award will transform our area in ways never before thought of in Lewis County and the surrounding communities .”

In 2016, Double Play established a permanent endowment fund at the Foundation. Gifts to help build Double Play’s endowment may be made online or by mail to:

Northern New York Community Foundation
131 Washington St.
Watertown, NY 13601

Double Play and the Community Foundation have been partnering for over a decade by working to improve the quality of life through enrichment program development and facility enhancements.

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