The Epicenter of the Community

On a Wednesday in February, the Allen Park Community Center was bustling with activity.

It was Military Appreciation Night for the Allen Park High School varsity team in the facility’s Frank J. Lada Ice Arena. An Allen Park Hockey Association team played Trenton in an 8 and under game. Novice hockey players were doing their best in the Learn to Skate program.

The Allen Park Athletic Club (APAC) held walk-in registration for hundreds of baseball, softball and T-ball players.

Four recreational basketball teams held practice in the center’s gymnasium. Children took part in tumbling and cheerleading programs in the multi-purpose rooms. Seniors quilted, knitted and exercised throughout the morning and afternoon.

Dozens of people of all ages and skills used the wide array of equipment or walked and ran at the second-floor fitness center.

Meanwhile, Parks and Recreation Department staff were busy planning even more activities for children, teenagers, adults and senior citizens, all under the watchful eye of Director Rob Fulton, who estimated that close to 300,000 people visit the Community Center on an annual basis.

To help educate the public, to introduce residents to Community Center programming and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the facility’s creation, Parks and Recreation held an open house in late November 2023.

Visitors were given tours of the completely renovated ice arena and facilities, located at 15800 White Street. They watched a high school game and learned about programs, room rentals and fitness center memberships. They found out more about such classes as “aging backwards,” cardio drumming, karate and senior trips and activities.

And they received free food courtesy of the sponsoring Detroit Wing Company, which handed out more than 3,500 servings of chicken wings and orders of French fries from a food truck parked outside the building. The food truck was manned by Dan Curis Jr., who owns the DWC franchise located in Independence Marketplace Shopping Center (in front of Lowe’s Home Improvement) in Allen Park with company founder Gus Mullairis and their staff. Fulton said he appreciated the collaboration with a business partner in the city.

Visitors joined elected officials and recreation commissioners to hear Fulton and Deputy Director Kyle Kar talk about the history of the facility, and how voters approved a bond issue that led to renovations to the ice arena and the addition of the 35,000-square-foot Community Center with a gym, fitness center, walking and running track, seven multi-purpose rooms and expanded concession area.

Groundbreaking on the original Civic Arena took place in February 1971. The building was dedicated and opened in April 1972. It was renamed after the late Mayor Lada in June 1999. Voters approved the bond for the new Community Center in January 2003. Groundbreaking took place that May and the new and improved facility was dedicated in December 2004.

“The Community Center is at the heart of our city, smack dab in the middle of downtown with all the local businesses benefiting from the activity that comes through the building each year,” Kar said.

A 2019 survey conducted as part of a grant to replace the roof on the building led to an update to all LED lighting throughout the building and new floors and ceilings in the multipurpose rooms. The fully renovated (in 2004) ice arena got improved locker rooms, new ice-making equipment, compressors, a cooling tower, new dasher boards and glass and a new dehumidification system.

“Considering the difficult times the Community Center went through, particularly when the city was under the state financial emergency manager, the fact that we were able to celebrate its 20th anniversary is a tribute to the outstanding and caring employees we have and the work and effort that has gone into raising the center from virtual ashes to the facility it is today,” said Mayor Gail McLeod. “This milestone, along with other progress in the city, continues to reinforce the faith our residents have in the city’s ability to continue to recover and move forward.”

City Administrator Mark Kibby said the Community Center and arena “look great.”

“Rob, Kyle, Evan (Taylor) and the entire staff did a great job maximizing the resources they had to give the facility a fresh look,” Kibby said. “The ice arena looks brand new with the new LED lighting and fresh paint. The new bleachers that are ADA compliant completed a task that had been on our needs list for a long time, but funding was always an issue. The mayor and council approving to use some of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that the city received for the bleachers was a great use of the money.

“Kyle made it a goal to sell out the advertising on the dash boards and he accomplished that. It looks great to see so many of our local businesses advertised. Rob has provided great leadership that has led to improvements at not only the Community Center and Ice Arena but throughout the park system.”

Carson Smith, a retired city administrator and parks and recreation director, said he is proud of the Community Center, and credits Allen Park voters for finally showing support of the bond issue over 25 years to make it happen. He said the city also used a $500,000 Department of Natural Resources grant that was obtained by former legislator William O’Neill.

“Some people wanted more – a swimming pool and racquetball courts,” Smith said. “From the money we had, it’s worked out really well. This has really been something positive for the community.”

He said that senior citizens, whose programming had been run out of the old Lapham Community Center (a former school building), have benefited by having their activities at a beautiful facility.

He added it is important to maintain the Community Center going forward, something the staff has a handle on.

Allen Park families such as Antioch, Zagunis, Righetti, Brithinee and Gulliver, who have a long-vested interest in the Community Center, were present for the 20th anniversary celebration.

Bruce Antioch, whose late father Raymond was part of a group that pushed for the building of the original Allen Park Ice Arena in the early 1970s, served on the Parks and Recreation Commission and then coached at the arena.

Bruce and his brothers Paul and Scott all played hockey in the arena and went on to coach in the Allen Park Hockey Association. Their sons all played as well. Bruce represented the family at the November event, even dropping the ceremonial opening faceoff for the high school game between Allen Park and Birmingham United.

“Our parents were very involved in our athletic years,” Bruce said. “Late in dad’s life, the city approved and built the Community Center addition. I was very proud to be a Parks and Rec Commissioner during this time. It was very meaningful to attend the Community Center grand opening with him. The Community Center has been important to our family… and our love for hockey.”

Director Fulton, whose own sons played hockey at the Allen Park Ice Arena, said the facility continues to be a focal point in the community. It can be used as a cooling center in hot weather and a warming center during cold winters. Growing sports such as pickleball have a huge following in the gymnasium.

The Community Center is also home to the Allen Park Sports Hall of Fame. In March, for the first time, the arena was scheduled to host a quarterfinal tournament for the Michigan High School Athletic Association hockey state tournament.

“I think this is a vital epicenter of what we do in a seven-point-one-square-mile city,” Fulton said. “We do everything here. We are big proponents of collaboration between groups and schools and nonprofits. If there’s a need, we add programs.”

Fulton said his staff takes “immense pride in maintaining the entire building and everything else that falls under Parks and Recreation.”

“The more I’m around this place as a resident,” he said, “the more I can appreciate the Community Center. It serves the purpose it was created for. We will continue our tireless efforts to ensure that this is one of Downriver’s finest facilities.”