A crowd gathered in the vacant parking lot on Van Buren Street in Newark last week as officials unveiled plans to build a regional health and wellness campus on the site.
The Village of Newark and Alex Eligh Community Center announced a major step forward with a naming rights commitment from ESL Federal Credit Union.
The newly dubbed "ESL Health and Wellness Campus" will be nearly 100,00 square feet slated to include a 6-lane indoor track and field event space, an indoor turf field for soccer, lacrosse and multi-sport training, several courts for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball, fitness equipment, multi-purpose rooms for senior wellness, youth activities and community events, and dedicated school-aged child care and after-school program space.
Newark Village Mayor Jonathan Taylor said, “ESL’s sponsorship brings this exciting project a huge step closer to completion. The ESL Health and Wellness Campus will provide a regional, accessible, year-round opportunity for everyone in Newark and beyond. ESL is partnering with us to give our community access to sports and wellness activities in a state-of-the art facility with exceptional programming.”
ESL president and CEO Tom Rogers stated, “For more than 15 years, ESL has been proud to serve the people of Newark, and the naming of the ESL Health and Wellness Campus reflects our long-term commitment to this community. By supporting a space that brings people together, expands opportunity, and contributes to Newark’s continued growth, we’re helping strengthen a community where individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits can continue to thrive.”
Braxton Guy, AECC Executive Director, noted, “The AECC has grown significantly over the past year and a half, offering expanded programs for young people in Newark and surrounding areas. This next step and partnership with ESL allow new opportunities for young people that many would never have imagined could take place in our community."
The Alex Eligh Community Center, currently located at 303 East Avenue in Newark, provides programs for youth, families, and seniors and has served the community since 1951.
Several current students shared their experiences with AECC and said they are looking forward to the expanded space and opportunities the campus will offer.
While several local and state politicians celebrated the announcement, others in the community raised concerns over the expanding footprint and price tag for the project.
Local business owner Steve Hallagan says he and others in Newark have serious reservations over the project and how it will be funded into the future. While the project has been in the works for several years, Hallagan says the latest plan “lacks depth and is not acceptable.”
He’s part of a group called Newark Citizens for Responsible Development and they have raised their issues to both the Mayor and the committee overseeing the project.
Following the new naming rights announcement on Monday, the group issued a statement.
“Newark Citizens for Responsible Development appreciate the recent ESL generous $2 Million donation and support of the Village of Newark. Additionally, it was very nice to see our new Executive Director and some of our youth front and center at the August 3 naming rights announcement.
However, until the Mayor presents and explains the financial details of this project we cannot support it. The original 2022 DRI plan included a Pro Forma Contractor Real Estate Budget and Village Operation Budget. This was included as part of the Newark 2022 DRI application to NYS. The project plan has had many changes since 2022 such as: building size and location; loss of RGH as tenant; inflation; and higher interest rates. The Mayor should make available and explain to the public updated versions of these Pro Forma Budgets. This is urgent. It has not been done and should be done ASAP.”
Initial conversations for the project began back in 2014 with an actual proposal being shared in 2022.
Over the past few years, Newark has received millions in NY State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funding. However Hallagan and the others in the group who include Pete Blandino, Dave Christler, Walt Hallagan, Steve Vanderbrook and John Zornow, say the funds needed to complete and maintain this project long-term will cost the Village much more than the grants will ever provide.
The project is still short several million dollars to reach its goal, a number Mayor Taylor says will hopefully come from "a core group of community members" through a capital campaign.
Assuming the necessary funds are raised soon, Taylor estimates the initial phase of the project could begin next year with an estimated completion date of 2028.
You can see renderings and find more information on the project and fundraising efforts by visiting newarkwellnesscenter.com/.
