Work begins on youth center

In Palmer Township, residents, merchants and community groups have raised money to build a community center and a baseball field for children and families with disabilities.

Add a proposed, third project to the list: a youth center.

Officials will hold a groundbreaking 11 a.m. Saturday at the Palmer Athletic Complex off Green Pond Road to mark the start of building the Palmer Kiwanis Youth Center. Parking and shuttle service will be available at the community center parking lots. Rain date is 11 a.m. Sunday.

The project will replace a youth sports fieldhouse opened in the 1960s, according to the youth center website.

The new youth center will have locker rooms and amenities for athletic teams, as well as space for civic groups such as Scouts and senior citizen groups. It is slated to open next August.

The estimated $1 million to $1.2 million needed to build the center is being raised privately.

The center is being named for the Palmer Kiwanis Youth Center after the Palmer Kiwanis club agreed to donate $150,000, according to its website.

The Palmer Business, Industry and Professional partnership has donated $100,000. Several township businesses are providing construction and other services for free.

The township will provide infrastructure for water, sewer, gas and electrical service. When the project is complete, the building will be donated to the township

Demolition of the old fieldhouse is slated for next week.

To donate, send a check, made out to Palmer Youth Center Project, to Palmer Youth Center Project, c/o Charles Romfo, 87 Jonathan Drive, Easton, PA 18045. For more information, go to palmeryouthcenter.com.

The Chrin Community Center and the Miracle League of Northampton County baseball complex were previously built largely with community donations.