Rotary’s Special Project far surpasses goal

    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Area residents and businesses, as well as some from away, showed just how much they want a new community center to be built in the Star City as they pledged more than $375,000 during the Presque Isle Rotary Club’s 67th annual Radio-TV Auction for the construction of the new facility.
After designating the Presque Isle Community Center as this year’s Special Project, the club set an initial fund-raising goal of $25,000.
“It quickly became apparent that there is a tremendous amount of support for this project and we raised our sights to $150,000,” said Jeff Pangburn, special project co-chair. “Thanks to the generosity of our community members and significant pledges from S.W Collins Co., Graves’ Shop ’n Save, County Federal Credit Union, and the Kirk and Louise Carroll family, we were able to surpass that goal in our first night, raising a total of $165,000!”
Not wanting to stop there, the Rotary Club set a new goal of $300,000. By the end of the second night, just over $250,000 was raised. When the third and final night was in the books, $375,388 was raised for the construction of the new building, which will be located within walking distance of downtown Presque Isle.
The new community center will provide something for citizens of all ages — a dividable gymnasium, several meeting and multi-purpose rooms, a walking track, a pool and splash pad, and space designed to meet the needs of young families, teens and seniors.
With his wife, Nora, and three sons (Brian, Jacob and Evan) joining him, Pangburn said his family was the reason he got involved with the project.
“I’m really excited to build a community asset that’s going to give these boys a place to recreate and potentially a place to learn some new life skills, maybe a place to work, and grow into young men,” said Pangburn. “I plan on raising my family here in this community, and I can’t think of a better place to raise a family than Presque Isle or Aroostook County. When there’s a need in the community, the members of the community come out and meet that need and they help each other.”
The city’s current recreation center, the William V. Haskell Community Center, was built in the early 1940s as a USO building, and was donated to the city in 1946. While the building has served as Presque Isle’s rec center for nearly 70 years, it was never designed for multi-use recreational and community programming.
In addition, the building is in need of extensive repairs, and the structure itself is wearing out. The electrical system is outdated, the roof leaks, the floor joists are rotting, there is asbestos in the walls and ceilings, and the chimney is cracked and crumbling. Nancy (Haskell) Vigue, whose father started Presque Isle’s rec program in 1946 and was the director for 35 years, said her father would be in favor of a new facility.
“My Dad gave his all for this program and I am very proud of his accomplishments. I am here to ask you to please give heartfelt consideration to supporting the Presque Isle Community Center project by giving a donation,” Vigue told those watching and listening to the Dec. 2-4 auction.
“The community center has served this city for 70 years, but it is now time for new facilities and a swimming pool. I am very sure my Dad would agree. He would want the best for the children and the community that he so loved. Today, Dad’s 7-year-old great-grandson, Carter, is learning to play basketball at the community center,” she said. “I don’t think we could put our money into a better project; this is it! This is what we need for our families, our children, our adults and our seniors … for everyone. This is a great project to invest in, and it will last for generations to come.”
Lucy Richard, who co-chaired the special project with her husband, Steve, said the new facility will be a great resource to promote healthy lifestyles.
“Having worked in health care for over 40 years, I think it’s so important that this community center is going to encompass all age groups for exercise,” she said. “So many of the young parents today have children that are in so many activities, that they don’t always feel they have time [to exercise].
“With the new rec center, they’ll be able to watch their kids play basketball and walk on the track. With the current rec center — due to its size — we’re very limited as to how many kids we can actually get active,” she said. “The new center will be double the space, so there will be more activities and room for more kids to take part.”
According to Steve Richard, the amount raised from the auction puts the $3.75 million fund-raising component at 70 percent of goal. The city’s matching contribution allows for the construction of a $7 million facility and a $1.5 million outdoor pool and splash pad.
“This has been well beyond what we expected, and we’re very excited. Our tagline has been ‘Commit to community, believe in Presque Isle,’ and I think people have really done that,” said Richard. “Thank you all very much.”
“The generosity of this community never ceases to amaze me,” said Scott Violette, Rotary president. “It fills your heart with pride to be from this community and to be from this town because they always come through, and this is another great example of it.”
Donations are still being accepted. Any resident or business owner interested in making a donation should contact Judy Dionne, campaign administrator, at 760-2785 or info@presqueisleme.us. For more information about the Presque Isle Community Center project, visit www.picommunitycenter.com, or “like” them on Facebook.