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[Stanley A. White Recreation Center Ribbon Cutting]
HOW APPROPRIATE IS IT THAT IT'S RAINY AND, AND DRIZZLY OUTSIDE? AND WE'RE HERE FOR THIS, THIS, UH, RIBBON CUTTING TODAY.THAT'S REALLY THE REASON WE'RE HERE, OBVIOUSLY, IS WHEN HURRICANE CLARKS CAME THROUGH BACK IN 2018, IT DEVASTATED THE PREVIOUS STANLEY WHITE.
WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY TO UNVEIL THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY.
LET US LOOK THROUGH THE FATHER, FATHER, GOD, AND LORD OF ALL CREATION.
MAY YOU BE THE EPIC CENTER OF ALL WE DO IN ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THROUGH YOUR MAN SERVING STANDING AUGUSTUS WIFE, THIS RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AND GRAND OPENING IN BOX ON THE NEW BEGINNING.
BUT WE KNOW THAT IT IS MORE THAN AN INAUGURAL EVENT.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO THANK YOU LORD GOD, FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND BLESSINGS.
AS ALDERMAN OF WARD TWO, WHERE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER IS HOUSED, I AM GREATLY PLEASED AT THIS GREAT, GREAT FACILITY THAT IT HAS BEEN REALIZED AND THAT OUR CITIZENS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES THAT WILL GROW AND EXPAND OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER FUN OR FITNESS, WHETHER YOUNG OR LIKE ME, NOT SO YOUNG.
I BELIEVE THE STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE WELLBEING OF ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
THIS IS A GREAT NEW BEGINNING.
UH, WE NEVER HAD A FACILITY LIKE THIS.
YOU ALL DID PARKS AND REX DID AN AWESOME JOB, BILLY, AWESOME JOB, AND ALL THE BOARD FOR THE STANLEY WHITE.
WE GOT A FEW OF 'EM IN HERE TODAY, BUT THIS IS A AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME FACILITY.
THE ORIGINAL STANLEY WHITE CENTER SERVED OUR COMMUNITY FOR OVER 42 YEARS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2018 WHEN WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH HURRICANE FLORENCE.
AS SOON AS WE REALIZED THAT IT WAS GONNA BE A SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED PROJECT, WE WERE WORKING WITH OUR CONSULTANTS AND, AND WORKING WITH FEMA AND TRYING TO NAVIGATE THAT PROCESS.
WE FINALLY GOT OUR APPLICATION INTO FEMA APRIL, 2019.
WE WERE APPROVED FOR OUR PROJECT IN MAY OF 2020, SO OVER A YEAR FOR THAT.
THEN WE WERE REQUESTED TO CHANGE IN SCOPE OF WORK TO RELOCATE THE STANLEY WHITE CENTER TO THIS LOCATION, ABOUT 1100 FEET FROM FRONT DOOR TO FRONT DOOR OF THE OLD FACILITY.
IT TOOK A LITTLE OVER A YEAR FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TO TAKE PLACE, THE ROBUST PUBLIC INPUT THAT WE RECEIVED.
AUGUST OF 2021, FEMA FINALLY APPROVED THE CHANGE IN SCOPE OF WORK FOR US TO BE ABLE TO START BUILDING THIS PROJECT.
IN JANUARY OF 2022, WE CONTRACTED WITH CPL TO, TO DESIGN THIS BUILDING, START DOING THEIR THEIR PART OF IT.
AND IN MAY, 2023, WE SELECTED TA 11, OUR GENERAL CONTRACTOR TO BUILD THE FACILITY.
AND WE HAD OUR GROUNDBREAKING IN AUGUST OF 20 24, 6 YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS LATER, WE'RE FINALLY AT THIS POINT AND WE'RE SO EXCITED.
AND THIS IS A WONDERFUL FACILITY THAT WE THINK IS GONNA SERVE THE CITIZENS AND VISITORS OF THIS CITY FOR THE NEXT A HUNDRED YEARS.
TWO WORDS FOR YOU, INTESTINAL FORTITUDE.
WHEN WE HAD OUR BEAM SIGNING CEREMONY, I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE IT IS, GUYS FROM TA 11 MIGHT MIGHT BE ABLE TO TELL US.
UM, WE ALL SIGNED THE TOP OF THAT BEAM AND I, I SIGNED MY NAME, BUT I WROTE TWO WORDS, INTESTINAL FORTITUDE.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, LOOK IT UP ON YOUR WAY HOME, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT GOT US WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
UM, AS AN ARCHITECT IS A CERTAIN PRIDE YOU GET WHEN YOU'RE DESIGNING A COMMUNITY FACILITY THAT SERVES AND UPLIFTS A COMMUNITY.
AND, AND THIS IS JUST A TESTAMENT TO THAT, UH, THIS BUILDING.
IT REPRESENTS MORE THAN JUST STEEL AND CONCRETE.
UH, IT SYMBOLIZES THE RESILIENCE AND THE SPIRIT OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THE, THE LONG ROAD TO GET HERE AFTER THE DEVASTATION OF HURRICANE FLORENCE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF TWISTS AND TURNS ALONG THE WAY.
UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY CPL WAS JUST GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER NOT ONLY WITH THE CITY OF NEW BERN, BUT ALSO WITH TA LOVING TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT THIS FACILITY, UM, TO MAKE IT STRONGER, TO MAKE IT MORE, UH, SUSTAINABLE AND TO, UH, ENSURE THAT IT'S GOING TO JUST THRIVE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
SO WHAT ARE THE AMENITIES IN HERE, RIGHT? AND I HOPE YOU ALL WALK AROUND SHORTLY.
WE'VE GOT A DOUBLE GYM HERE, AND IT'S GONNA BE ABLE TO BE A MULTIPURPOSE FACILITY, WHETHER WE HAVE A LUNCH OR A DINNER, BASKETBALL GAMES, VOLLEYBALL, PICKLEBALL, WHATEVER.
BUT WE CAN ALSO HAVE TRADE SHOWS IN HERE AS WELL.
THE ELEVATED 11TH MILE WALKING OR
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JOGGING TRACK.WE'VE GOT A FANTASTIC CARDIO AND WEIGHT ROOM AREA ON THE SECOND LEVEL.
WE'VE GOT A FITNESS STUDIO MEETING SPACE STAFF OFFICES.
WE'VE GOT A HISTORY WALL IN HONOR OF STANLEY WHITE.
IT'S RIGHT DOWN THE HALLWAY HERE.
THIS IS ALSO GONNA SERVE AS AN EMERGENCY SHELTER WHEN, WHEN SITUATIONS LIKE HURRICANE FLORENCE COME UP.
SO ON BEHALF OF TA 11 COMPANY, WE'RE FAIRLY, WE'RE INCREDIBLY HONORED TO STAND FOR YOU TODAY.
WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO BRING THIS FANTASTIC STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER TO LIFE FOR THE WONDERFUL CITY OF LELAND.
THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE FOR THIS TEAM RIGHT HERE.
UM, THEY POURED THEIR HEARTS AND EXPERTISE INTO EVERY ASPECT OF THE BUILDING, FROM THE FOUNDATION TO THE FINISH AND TOUCHES AND THE DETAILS TO HIGHLIGHT THE HISTORY OF THE FACILITY.
OUR STANLEY WHITE RECREATION CENTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UM, THEY PLAYED A LARGE ROLE IN HELPING MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
SO IF I CAN HAVE THEM COME UP JUST SO THEY CAN BE RECOGNIZED, UM, FOR THE ONES THAT ARE HERE, AND I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND GIVE 'EM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR, UH, TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR LIVES TO HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND TO SERVE ON THIS BOARD.
MAYOR ODOM, CITY OFFICIALS, PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, ALL THOSE WHO DID WITH THE CONSTRUCTION, THE ADVISORY BOARD, AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
THE FAMILY AND I ARE FULL OF EMOTION AND GRATITUDE TO THINK THAT FIVE YEARS REMOVED FROM THE FLOOD AND 54 YEARS AFTER MY DAD'S DEATH, EVERYONE SAW FIT TO REVEAL AND CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THE UNSELFISH LOVE AND DEVOTION MY DAD HAD FOR THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH HE LIVED AND SERVED.
I'M GONNA PRESENT THIS TO DARRELL, THE SON OF STANLEY WHITE, AND IT SAYS, STANLEY, A CHIEF WHITE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION IN TEACHING US AS KIDS IN BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL, AND BASEBALL.
YOUR GUIDANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT SHAPED NOT ONLY OUR SKILLS, BUT ALSO OUR CHARACTER.
YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AND CHERISHED FOR THE POSITIVE IMPACT YOU'VE MADE IN OUR LIVES.
THE REDEDICATION OF THE NEW STANLEY, A WHITE RECREATION CENTER, JANUARY 27TH, 2025.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MY STAFF WHO PLAYED SUCH A INTEGRAL PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY.
UM, FROM MY PARTS AND GROUNDS MAINTENANCE STAFF, UH, PARTS SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS LOAN CARE STAFF, AS WELL AS THE RECREATION STAFF, UM, WHO ARE HERE THAT'LL BE WORKING IN THIS BUILDING, PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, UH, RECOGNIZE THEM.
SO IF YOU'RE HERE IN THE ROOM, GUYS, RAISE YOUR HAND.
UM, I SEE SOME OF YOU UPSTAIRS.
UM, BUT GOING FORWARD, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME AMAZING PROGRAMS IN HERE FROM ATHLETICS, SPORTING EVENTS, UM, BEING ABLE TO DO AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, UM, ART, COOKING.
WE'VE GOT A AWESOME KITCHEN IN THERE TO USE TO BE ABLE TO TEACH COOKING CLASSES.
AND I HAVE A STAFF THAT THAT'S HER FORTE.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THEN OF COURSE, OUR FITNESS AREA UP THERE.
WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO SO MANY GREAT THINGS WITH HEALTH AND WELLNESS, UM, FROM THE WALKING TRACK TO THE EQUIPMENT AND BEING ABLE TO OFFER SOME FITNESS CLASSES, WHICH WE'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN ABLE TO DO BEFORE EXCEPT FOR A LIMITED AMOUNT.
SO WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED, UM, TO GET THIS FACILITY OPEN AND TO HAVE PEOPLE IN HERE ACTUALLY GETTING TO BENEFIT FROM THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE EVERY DAY.