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City of New Rochelle Celebrates Ribbon-Cutting of Inaugural Downtown Recreation Center

Last month, The City of New Rochelle celebrated the official ribbon-cutting of its first-ever Downtown Recreation Center, a new community activity and events hub developed by the Department of Parks and Recreation with the support of Audi of New Rochelle. Located on the second floor of the New Roc building in the Vanguard District, this dynamic 3,000 square-foot facility is the first indoor recreation space of its kind in the downtown corridor.

The center addresses a long-standing need for accessible public recreation space in close proximity to the city’s growing downtown. Within walking distance of the train station, public library, post office, and new residential buildings, it offers residents convenient access to high-quality Parks and Rec programming in the heart of the city.

“Downtown REC gives Parks & Recreation the opportunity to run dedicated, uninterrupted programming in the first-ever indoor space purely dedicated to our department,” said Vincent Parise, Commissioner of Parks & Recreation. “Because it’s designed specifically for recreational use, we can consistently plan and grow our offerings. It’s a space where families, children, and seniors can count on finding high-quality activities led by our experienced team, right in the heart of downtown. We’re especially grateful to Audi of New Rochelle for their partnership and commitment to giving back to our community.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony marks a milestone for the Parks and Recreation Department’s efforts to expand recreational access to all corners of the community and all year-round. Managed and programmed by the Department, the Downtown Recreation Center is built to serve families, children, seniors, and youth with fun, engaging, and enriching activities – without the limitations of shared facilities. In addition to hosting a rotating program of public events led by Parks and Rec, the center will also act as a home base for community groups such as the New Rochelle Youth Bureau and Senior Center, giving them a flexible space of their own to host community moments throughout the year.

“This is the first facility of its kind in downtown New Rochelle,” said Adam Salgado, Commissioner of Development. “As we continue to invest in the revitalization of our downtown, it’s important that we create not just housing and infrastructure, but meaningful spaces for community life. This new recreation center brings that vision to life, offering a welcoming, active, and accessible place for all residents to connect and thrive right in the heart of the city.”

Regular programming at the downtown rec center currently includes:

• Little Movers (Ages 3–5): Saturdays, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Youth Bureau’s Elite Steppers: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Past programs since the center’s soft launch in January have included:

• Cheer Clinic – A partnership with Reign All Stars introduced kids to cheerleading fundamentals including tumbling, stunts, and teamwork.

• Little Hoopers – A spring break basketball camp for pre-K to kindergarteners focusing on fundamentals, teamwork, and fair play.

• Science Explorers – A hands-on program with volcano-building, ice cream-making, and recycled-material engineering.

• Mommy and Me – Interactive sessions for parents and guardians to connect with young children through building, crafting, and creative play.

• Little Movers (Season Two) – Ongoing Saturday dance classes in Ballet, Hip Hop, and Tap for ages 3–5.

Looking ahead, the Parks and Recreation Department will continue to grow its programming, with the next community-wide event planned for this summer in collaboration with Mad Science. 

“We’re proud and thrilled about this partnership and opportunity to give back to the community with the City of New Rochelle & the Parks & Recreation Department,” said John Kaufman, General Manager of Audi of New Rochelle. “Additionally, we are excited to celebrate our 45th year as an Audi Dealer and looking forward to many more years in the local community.”

For more information on Parks programming at the Downtown Recreation Center, visit the City’s website newrochelleny.com and follow along on social media @NewRoParks.