Wait worth it as east-end families celebrate new $21M community centre

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Rowan Gibson, 9, tries out the playground equipment Saturday at the opening of the East Lions Community Centre and Park. (Norman De Bono) Rowan Gibson, 9, tries out the playground equipment Saturday at the opening of the East Lions Community Centre and Park. (Norman De Bono)

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The opening Saturday of the East Lions Community Centre was a celebration three generations in the making for Theresa Gibson.

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Watching her grandchildren on the new playground equipment, she recalled taking her son to the same park when he was a kid, and her husband grew up in the neighbourhood as well.

“There was a water puddle every winter my kids used as an ice rink and the pool and playground were used a lot,” Gibson said.

“It warms my heart to see this. It is wonderful. They did a marvelous job. It was worth the wait.”

The grand opening Saturday saw the park as well as the centre itself filled with families on the playground and inside, taking a cooking class or doing activities.

The $21.4-million community centre on Churchill Avenue has 42,000 square feet of community space for sports and activities as well as a new park with playground equipment, pickle ball and basketball courts as well as a sports field.

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“To see all these families here is a beautiful thing. It has been a long time coming,” said Jon Paul McGonigle, director of recreation and sport for the city.

“This is going to be busy all the time.”

Blakely Gibson, 7, gets a push from her sister Dani, 6, at the opening of the East Lions Community Centre on Saturday, May 14, 2022. (Norman De Bono/The London Free Press) Blakely Gibson, 7, gets a push from her sister Dani, 6, at the opening of the East Lions Community Centre on Saturday, May 14, 2022. (Norman De Bono/The London Free Press)

Plans for the new community centre first surfaced in about 2010 in a recreation master plan by the city, but the Argyle Community Association began advocating for it about 20 years ago, Coun. Shawn Lewis said.

“It’s wonderful, we are finally able to celebrate as a community,” he said. “This is an amazing new amenity the community has been asking about for 20 years.  It is a fabulous space and badly needed.”

Lewis also cited how the Argyle area is seeing “renewal” as young families are moving in and will use the community centre and park.

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“This is for the people of east London and their families. This brings people together,” added deputy mayor Josh Morgan.

“It is wonderful to have another multi-purpose facility in the city.”

A park on the site dates to 1951 when the East London Lions Club purchased land and cleared it for a baseball diamond and a park. A pool was added in 1953 and was joined by an auditorium in the 1960s. It was then gifted to the city of London.

The East Lions Community Centre in east London includes a swimming pool and gymnasium. (Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press) The East Lions Community Centre in east London includes a swimming pool and gymnasium. (Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press)

East Lions Community Centre and Park

  • $21.4 million
  • 1731 Churchill Ave.
  • 42,000 square feet
  • Six-lane, 25-metre lap pool and a smaller leisure pool
  • Solar panels on roof
  • 150 parking spaces
  • Double gymnasium, community multi-purpose rooms, community kitchen
  • Soccer field, pickle ball and basketball courts, outdoor park space and playground equipment.

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