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Home Away From Nome City Erects Recreation Center March 27, 1968

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The first building for public use in Falls Church since the City Hall and Public Library were completed over ten years ago, is now under construction at the corner of Great Falls and Little Falls.

The Falls Church Community Center, when completed, in the late fall, will be the city's first fully equipped, modern facility devoted exclusively to recreation and community activities.

The building will contain a multi-purpose room, gymnasium, game room, meeting and club room, kitchen, storage areas and office space for Recreation Department personnel.

In an interview with Mr. Kenneth R. Burnett, director of the Falls Church Recreation department, he expressed a wish for such things as "Teen Clubs" and "Senior Citizen Clubs". These clubs would elect their own officers and take part in planning their activities.

The "Teen Club," for instance, might want to plan dances or have special classes in art, drama, or any other activity they want, if they can get enough interested people to make it worthwhile. A nominal fee would be charged to help defray the cost.

At the present time the Recreation Department has plan. for keeping the building open 90 hours a week, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday.

"This is not a strict schedule," Mr. Burnett inserted, "for if a special program is planned in advance, we certainly would keep the center open later."

One of the big problems Mr. Burnett foresees is scheduling all the activities for the building. With all the special activities and groups from preschoolers on up wanting us, the facilities of the building will have to be run on a very tight schedule." This will require another full time and one additional part time employee to be hired to supplement the two present full time employees.