CREEDMOOR — Touted by officials as the city’s new heart and icon, the Creedmoor Community Center will open its doors to the public later this month, two years after construction and renovations at the site began.

A ribbon cutting will take place Tuesday, April 27, at 7 p.m. It will be open for its first full day of operation the following day.

“We are thrilled to open the Creedmoor Community Center to the public,” Creedmoor Mayor Bobby Wheeler said in a statement. “It has been a long year without events and programs put on by our great Recreation Department staff. We can’t wait to bring the community back together in this new space.”

The nearly $6.4 million facility, at 108 E. Wilton Ave., includes space for the South Granville Senior Center, as well as recreation facilities and public space. It boasts more than 23,000 square feet in all, as well as an outdoor athletic field.

A rentable ballroom, known as the Willow Oak Room, is available for private or community events. The facility also includes flexible classrooms that can be divided into two rooms, an aerobic exercise room and a computer lab.

The Senior Center wing features a prep kitchen, administrative offices, a sunroom and an outdoor deck.

Athletic and recreation features include a renovated gymnasium with a full-size basketball court, an open exercise area and indoor walking track. There is also an outdoor walking track and multipurpose athletic field. The building houses office space for city recreation staff as well.

“The completion of the Creedmoor Community Center marks a new era as the City of Creedmoor seeks to better serve the needs of our citizens,” the city said in a press release. “Renovations to the original building and the addition of a recreational facility will provide space to support the city’s community events and programs.”

Durham architectural firm MHAworks began designing the Creedmoor Community Center in early 2018. The city broke ground at the site in April 2019. The project was built by contractor

Design for the center began in January of 2018 by Durham architect, MHAworks and construction began with a groundbreaking ceremony in April 2019 with our contractor, Harrod and Associates.

The city said the project cost $6,397,401, including demolition, design and other preconstruction costs. It was funded in part by a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund state grant, a $350,000 grant from Granville County, and a $10,000 grant from the county’s Tourism Development Authority. The city funded the rest.