Grand Opening To Offer A Close Look

At Newtown Youth Academy

By Kendra Bobowick

The Newtown Youth Academy’s doors will officially swing open for a glimpse of the indoor sports complex on November 1. Anyone interested in the new courts and indoor field at the new sports and fitness facility in the back corner of Fairfield Hills can enjoy a peek this Saturday during the grand opening, or “viewing,” said Director Keith Miller. The academy will not be fully open for business until mid-November, he anticipates. The grand opening, however, offers a taste, he agreed. “Come and see what we’re about.”

With a schedule of fun and entertainment for Saturday afternoon, coordinator Ken Good points out the special events for the afternoon and evening. The IST Baseball will be on the turf from 2 to 4 offering batting and games. Those who plan on attending are encouraged to bring a glove, Mr Good said. The UK International soccer training organization will next use the field for activities from 3 to 4 pm.

The opening day celebration welcomes the public and promises “fun and games for kids of all ages,” according to a flyer also touting Newtown’s jump-rope team, which will perform. Guests will be welcomed with door prizes, raffles, and refreshments, and can meet the trainers for the fitness center on the academy’s second floor. Super Fun Inflatables will set up an obstacle course for children. Between 7 and 9 pm will be volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, basketball and more, accompanied by jazz players entertaining in the main lobby. Special events, performances, sports clinics, and interactive games will be held throughout the day Saturday, also featuring the Newtown High School jump-rope team the Moon Jumpers, and varsity girls and boys basketball teams. “Our grand opening is to get the public in to see and experience the facility,” Mr Miller wrote in a recent email.

The coming two weeks will see crews completing last-minute work to the academy during the day while evenings are already booked with groups signed up for free trial time between 5 and 10 pm. Ken Good is currently scheduling all events and if someone wishes to use the facility during the period between the first and the 15th they can contact him at kgood@newtownyouthacademy.org.

The Newtown Youth Academy is a “private” not-for-profit organization. The Newtown Parks and Recreation Department will benefit from usage of the facility for up to 1,600 hours of court time as part of the NYA lease agreement with the town and owner Peter D’Amico’s vision of a way to “give back” to residents, Mr Miller said. Recreation department programming is entitled to a substantial rate discount off of the normal rates for those hours. After the 1,600 hours the department will then be treated as any other Newtown sports organization. Parks and Rec and all of Newtown’s sports organizations will benefit from discounts and savings, based on amount of time requested and the type of programming and/or events, also as a way to give back to the community.