New Manassas Park community center to open Jan. 16

MANASSAS PARK, Va. -- People who have had a sneak preview said the new Manassas Park Community Center has something for everyone.

Jay Ellington, the executive director of the Prince William County Park Authority, is a guy who should know something about community centers.

"You talk about fantastic and exceptional -- this is at the top of the level for community recreation," Ellington said Friday after a ribbon cutting for the 80,000-square-foot center at 99 Adams St. near Costello Park in Manassas Park.

People who will use the community center after it opens Jan. 16 will be able to find everything from quiet places to read to two full-sized basketball courts and everything in between, including a workout room with weight machines, stationary bicycles and elliptical trainers as well as a full-sized pool, kiddie pool and sauna.

The center has half a dozen teaching rooms as well as a rooms dedicated to senior citizens and pre-schoolers.

A room for teens is outfitted with Wii consoles and a pingpong table.

Pam Terry, the principal at Cougar Elementary School in Manassas Park, marveled at the center during a tour from the building's reception center to its full-service kitchen.

"Just look at what's available for all ages," she said.

Katrina Saunders, the assistant Principal at Cougar Elementary School, toured the building as well.

She called the center "bright and attractive" and said Manassas Park residents should be proud.

"It shows a lot of foresight in what they were thinking about in the different ways they can use the building," she said. "It certainly becomes a landmark for Manassas Park for showing off the community.

"People walking in here will certainly understand the commitment Manassas Park has to community," she added.

Khalid Chavis also appreciated the forethought that went into the building's design.

"It was well thought out and planned as far as fitting everybody's needs, from young to old," said Chavis, a Manassas Park resident and car salesman at Battlefield Ford.

Manassas Park Mayor Frank Jones said that was the point of the $22 million center.

"What do we need to do for families? That's been the focus of this from the start -- from the little fellas all the way up to the seniors," Jones said.

Melissa Pitts said her children have been playing basketball with the Parks and Recreation Department in Manassas Park for about six years.

She thinks her children will like the new community center.

"They are going to be very excited. These facilities are wonderful," said Pitts, the assistant principal at Manassas Park Elementary School.

Mike Donohue, a former Manassas Park resident who now lives in Warrenton but continues to do contracting work in the area, said he stopped by to get a look at the community center.

"It looks great. I wouldn't have believed Manassas Park would have gotten this big in the last 30 years," he said.

Jones said the building, which was financed through bond sales, could also be used in ways that would not be readily apparent to visitors.

The building will also serve as an emergency shelter, Jones said.

"This is one of our primary location for shelter-in-place. We can sleep over 500 people here if we have an evacuation situation," Jones said. "The generator will power the building for days. It's as broad a scope as we could put in in terms of use."

Manassas Bureau Chief Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.