In the News

One neighborhood in Springfield, Massachusetts has longed for a community center for decades. Now, it is just a little more than a year away.

The groundbreaking ceremony in the North End neighborhood Monday for the $15 million project spearheaded by the New North Citizens Council drew well over 100 people.

In addition to meeting rooms, the new center will have a full gymnasium, a medical clinic and it will be the headquarters for the New North Citizens Council, which is both a civic association and a social service agency for the region’s growing Hispanic population. This will put all of the programs including housing, violence prevention, food security, and youth mentoring under one roof, said Maria Ligus, New North’s executive director.

“One stop shopping – it’ll be a hub of activity,” Ligus said. “We’re pretty excited.”

A combination of public and private funds are paying for the project.

Massachusetts Congressman Richard Neal said he urged New North to apply for money from the American Rescue Plan Act and the city of Springfield obliged by awarding the project $2.5 million from its allotment of ARPA funds.

“It was the professionalism of the advocacy,” Neal explained. “We got together and they said can you see what you can do about using some of the federal money for the purpose of building this neighborhood center and that is exactly what we are going to do.”

The Massachusetts legislature approved a $1 million bond for the project.

At the groundbreaking, Dennis Duquette, President of the MassMutual Foundation, announced a $1.5 million contribution.

The new center is being named for Barbara Rivera, the late community activist who was New North’s executive director for many years. Her three daughters participated in the groundbreaking. Janet Rodriquez Denny said it is a happy day for the family.

“We are just so honored that they remember my mom,” she said. “We are honored that they still remember her and continue on her legacy.”

The center is going up on a large vacant lot on Chestnut Street where the Chestnut Junior High School once stood. It was heavily damaged in a fire and torn down in 2014. The city sold the land to New North for $150,000.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said the new center will be a tremendous asset to the North End.

“The North End is a hidden jewel — beautiful families, beautiful homes, beautiful businesses starting to open up now,” he said.

The target date for opening the building is September 2023. It would coincide with the 50^th anniversary of the founding of the New North Citizens Council.