New Saipan recreation center opens today
The new Saipan Recreation Facility at the Northern Marianas College Campus will officially open its doors to the public today at 9:00 AM.
Completion of the facility was realized through the combined efforts of several government agencies that include the Northern Marianas Housing Authority, Commonwealth Developmental Authority, Public Works, Commonwealth Utilities Corp., the Governor’s Office and the Northern Marianas College.
The facility will be open for use by both the NMC and the community.
The project, which surfaced in 1996, was funded in the form of a Block Grant from the federal government, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and an appropriation from the 10th CNMI Legislature.
The Health and Physical Education department of NMC, whose members include Tony Satur, Jerome Ierome and Kurt Barnes, will help administer the programs, as well as usage of the facility.
The new facility offers a variety of activities such as community youth programs, drop-by recreation hours, and NMC physical education activity classes.
The first phase of the facility includes the shower/locker rooms, equipment storeroom, office and the main gym which houses one tennis court, two volleyball courts, 2 side basketball courts and one main basketball court with glass back-boards.
Future phases will provide for bleachers, a scoreboard. a weight room, an aerobic dance room, racquet ball courts and a training/medical room.