It won't be long before an outdoor center for rafting and biking, complete with a kayaking school, sets up shop in Lehighton.

Construction continues on the Lehighton Outdoor Center - Home of Jim Thorpe River Adventures and Northeast PA Kayak School.The near 12,000-square-foot center will be located at 123 Lehigh Drive just off Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard and is expected to be open in June, and remain open year-round, according to owner Jerry McAward.Once completed, McAward said the center will provide a variety of adventure levels for adults, as well as kids and their families, such as biking; kayaking; a kayak school; and eventually cross-country ski rentals."The drive-by visibility and parking were attractive," McAward said. "The big thing for me is to make it part of the community, and to put it (Lehighton) on the map with those kinds of activities."McAward said he believes the new location will be a perfect fit for his business."We really wanted to put an outdoor facility in Lehighton in a high-visibility location with a state-of-the-art facility," he said. "That spot is sort of like a gateway to Lehighton and Jim Thorpe."Parking is keyMcAward, who owns Jim Thorpe River Sports Inc., doing business as Jim Thorpe River Adventures, as well as the Northeast PA Kayak School Inc., explained why he has decided to relocate his business from Jim Thorpe to Lehighton."We have grown steadily," he said. "We turn away a lot of people that we don't have parking for."McAward said the rafting company is entering its 10th season, while the kayak school was started up in 1999.However, despite the move, McAward said the season will get underway in April at the Jim Thorpe site.He said the new facility will employ about 120 people.Impact on LehightonLehighton Borough Manager Nicole Beckett said numerous studies have been completed on revitalizing downtown Lehighton, and that each one refers to the Lehigh River as the primary natural asset of the borough."Sgt. Stanley Hoffman Boulevard and Lehigh Drive are one of the greatest underdeveloped assets in downtown Lehighton," Beckett said. "With the construction of the Lehighton Outdoor Center, the goal of riverfront development is being met."Beckett said, "The development of the Lehighton Outdoor Center is fundamental to the future of our downtown. Together, we see Lehighton as a destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.""His business is an essential part of the puzzle in the redevelopment of the business district in addition to our potential designation as a trail town," she said. "Jerry and I have discussed the involvement of the Lehighton Outdoor Center in recreation, community events and downtown improvements."Beckett said the borough is fortunate to have McAward invest in the Lehighton community."Throughout the development process, it became very evident that Mr. McAward is interested in partnering with the borough and its organizations, she said. "Jerry's business will not only bring visitors to the borough, provide jobs and beautify the area, he is placing Lehighton on the map in the world of white-water rafting, kayaking and other outdoor activities."Likewise, McAward praised the borough, and specifically, Beckett."They have been nothing but supportive," he said.