NEWBURYPORT — The Port Youth and Rec Foundation is aiming to ensure the city’s new recreation center is fully equipped come its planned November opening as it continues a $750,000 capital campaign to support the center’s launch.
“We’re trying to create and execute on a private-public partnership,” campaign co-organizer Andy Boger said.
Upon completion, the recreation center at 59 Low St. will house the city’s Recreation and Youth Services Department, which has not had a permanent home since 2021 when the boiler at its last location, the former Brown School, was deemed unusable.
On May 13, 2025, voters approved a $6.5 million debt exclusion to pay for most of the city’s $8.3 million plan to build the center.
The complex will also include offices for RYS staff, a flexible art/maker space, an early education area, meeting and quiet study space, as well as multipurpose space.
A half basketball court will be built outside to go along with a new patio, enclosed play space and an open lawn area.
Harvard-based L.D. Russo Inc. was awarded the contract after submitting the lowest bid, $7.1 million, in March 2025. Ground was broken for the project in September.
Boger was joined in organizing the campaign by two former mayors, Donna Holaday and Mary Anne Clancy, and local youth advocate Beth Trembly Hall.
The goal of the campaign is to ensure the center is equipped with all the technology and furnishings it will need to be a success right from launch, as certain items were not able to be included in the city’s budget for the project.
“In order to get it on budget at $8.3 million, you couldn’t have everything, so to speak,” Boger said.
Complicating matter, Recreation and Youth Services Director Andi Egmont said they lost a decent chunk of their supplies over the years while without a home.
“We really are looking to rebuild and stock up to make sure we can run all our programs and make sure we have everything we need,” Egmont said.
Currently the campaign has received $500,000 in contributions from local banks and institutions as well as grants, and it is now looking to fill out the remainder of its goal through private funds.
“We want to inject some private funds and funding into that to really help it be the best possible building and department that it can possibly be,” Boger said.
He said they are around $100,000 to $150,000 away from their total goal, which they hope to achieve before the planned November completion of the center. For the month of August, he said they have a goal of $25,000.
“Every donation matters, even if they’re not large numbers, because those add up over time,” Boger said.
He said the idea by November is to “really raise a significant amount of funding to launch this building and youth services it has its new home.”
“It’s sort of like it’s a homecoming, if you will,” Boger said. “We’re trying we’re trying to give them the best home possible to hit the ground running from day one.”
To donate folks can either visit portrec.org or write out a physical check.