Neighborhood House cuts ribbon on multi-use space

Summertime just got a little more fun for area kids and teens.

Riverdale Neighborhood House’s (RNH) community and teen center officially opened for business on June 5.

RNH board members, residents and elected officials gathered at the sleek new building for a ribbon-cutting last week.

The center will immediately be put to use, and Nancy Nuñez, deputy director of youth services, is looking forward to breaking it in.

“It’s a compilation of trying to provide services to the community and to teenagers,” Ms. Nuñez said. “We’re just so happy about it.”

Councilman Andrew Cohen, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and state Sen. Jeff Klein allocated $550,000 in city and state funds between them to the building, where construction started in 2013.

“I really feel like this is the way things are supposed to work,” Mr. Cohen said at the ceremony. “I mean, the collaborative effort between community members, the city and the state — it was a great project… I just know it’s going to be a great addition to the community.”

On the bottom floor, the new teen center features a lounge with tables for air hockey, pool, ping-pong and foosball, as well as a computer room. On the top floor, kids will enjoy physical activities on the basketball court and in the swimming pool.

Also new to the center is an elevator that will make the pool accessible to those with limited mobility.

Mr. Dinowitz and Mr. Klein allocated $250,000 each to the center. Mr. Cohen brought an additional $75,000 in municipal grants. The public monies went to constructing the building, installing A/C units, new fencing, exterior lighting and other features.