Newport Beach Community Center set to open

The indoor/outdoor stage, warming kitchen and basketball hoops at the Newport Coast Community Center were begging to be used as landscapers and city officials put on some finishing touches in preparation for Tuesday’s soft opening.

The 17,000-square-foot building at the corner of San Joaquin Hills Road and Newport Coast Drive houses four meeting rooms, a large gymnasium, a green room and stage and other amenities, all of which come available to the public next week.

The official dedication and ribbon-cutting is set for Sept. 15, though the public is invited to stop by for a guided tour with staff and volunteers Tuesday through Sept. 7.

Visitors can learn more about the 170-plus courses that will be offered at the center during Sampler Week, Sept. 8 through 14, when instructors will offer sneak peeks of classes such as Pre-School 101, Ballroom Dancing and African Hand Drumming.

“We’ve got an extensive schedule in place,” said Wes Morgan, director of the city’s Recreation and Senior Services Department. “I anticipate that our programming — which is always being evaluated for changes and additions — will be very successful.”

Construction of the $8.5-million project began last September, based on plans from Costa Mesa architects Dougherty and Dougherty, and is scheduled to wind up Friday.

The great majority of the funding came from Newport Coast residents.

“It was supposed to be a 12-month construction period and that’s what it’s going to be,” Morgan said. “We are very pleased that the project ended on time and on budget.”

Though the building was created to accommodate the Newport Coast community, it is open to all Newport Beach residents.

Morgan emphasized the high quality of the facility, highlighting the maple flooring in the Newport Coast and Willinger rooms, which, along with the smaller Newport Ridge and Pelican rooms, can be rented out for meetings, large group events and wedding receptions.

The gym, which can hold more than 1,200 people, was designed to meet CIF standards, and Morgan hopes local schools such as Newport Coast Elementary and Sage Hill will use it for varsity-level competition.

The space will also host drop-in hoops programs for teens and adults.

The back of the gymnasium area features an indoor/outdoor stage where the center will present live theater and music, as well as films.

Newport Beach Public Library cardholders will be able to request, checkout and return items at a library concierge desk at the center, as well as access wireless Internet.

City officials invite residents to celebrate the grand opening at the 5th Annual Sunday Funday in the Park, scheduled for Sept. 16.

Visitors can enjoy free food, live music, games, class demonstrations and tours at the community center and adjacent Newport Ridge Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The center is set to be open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.

It will be closed Sundays and city-observed holidays.

For more information, go to www.city.newport-beach.ca.us.