Local wellness center opens after 3 years of fundraising

HUBBARD, Ohio (WKBN) – After three years of fundraising and hard work, Hubbard residents now have a new place to exercise.

The Roosevelt Student Wellness Center had its grand opening today but community leaders say there is still more work to be done.

The project has taken three years and almost $200,000 in fundraising. Around 75 people attended the center’s grand opening Friday afternoon, getting a first-hand look at all the renovations.

“This is an area where they’ll be able to work out, play pickleball, basketball — we’ll have batting cages, a golf simulator,” said James Chaney with the Hubbard Youth Coalition.

The plan is to have senior citizens utilize the center for the first half of the day and then it will be open to students once they get out of school.

“One thing I noticed through COVID, that I think everyone noticed, kids’ activity levels really lessen. They become very comfortable with devices. They become very comfortable being inside,” Chaney said.

Some of Hubbard’s sports teams will have the chance to use the center. The wrestling team already has their mats inside and the weight room ready to go.

“This is really going to house a lot of our sports teams but also the overflow of younger sports, so basketball programs and things like that,” said Hubbard School Board President Anna Martin.

The center had some materials donated and community members have stepped up to help.

“25 people in here from 10 years old to 80 years old, cranking on bolts, taking bleachers out that have been in here since 1939,” Chaney said.

“This school building means so much. This gymnasium means so much to so many different people. It really allows for this historic building to kind of carry on the memories across generations,” said Martin.

The work isn’t over just yet. They still need to add the golf simulator and batting cages and plan to have a multi-purpose room.

Some work on the lobby and the outside needs completed as well.

“We’re going to put a playground in, some basketball courts, pickleball courts, as well as a putting green,” said Chaney.

The center will be holding events throughout the weekend for the community.

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