By Kaitlin Glanzer
Granby officials gathered Saturday to celebrate the dedication of the town's new recreation building at Salmon Brook Park.
The Recreation Community Center had been a long time in the works and had been helped along by numerous people, including Kate Woodford, Ned Allen and previous recreation directors.
"This project was envisioned half a dozen years ago," said First Selectman John Adams. "If we want to run a first class program here, including the summer program for the kids, we need a facility with certain size rooms... this facility makes that possible."
Adams thanked the Board of Finance, the Parks and Recreation Board, state Rep. Bill Simanski, Town Manager Bill Smith and architect Lori DiBattista for bringing the project to life. The Department of Public Works pulled it all together, Adams said.
It was funded in part through a state grant.
At the ceremony on the patio, Simanski motioned to the beautiful building behind him.
"Wow. I was just at a grand opening at the high school for a new facility and I thought, 'Granby does things right.' Now this. It's breathtaking," he said.
Allen agreed.
"We all lobbied for this kind of facility but it far exceeds our expectations. We couldn't have dreamed of this," he said. "It is a marvelous facility."
Speaking for all those who had voiced the need for it over the years, Allen concluded, "I just want to say thank you."
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