A near quarter-century dream to provide a recreation/community center for the Northern Lehigh area could be in serious jeopardy.

Several factors have contributed to the uncertainty surrounding the completion of the Northern Lehigh Community Center, located at 545 W. Church St., Slatington.

For starters, COVID-19 has seriously jeopardized fundraising, according to Michelle Raber, vice president and program chair for the Northern Lehigh Community Center.

Additionally, Raber said that Walnutport Borough Council, one of the three participating municipalities, voted earlier this month to not help support the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority.

“With that said, the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority’s board voted to not include taking on the Northern Lehigh Community Center’s building project as one of their tasks,” the board of directors said in a release Tuesday. “The NLRA has solicited funds this past December from the public to continue their recreational and educational programs and fulfill their budget deficit they face.”

Vision for the center

In 1997, a concerned group of residents, hoping to improve the Northern Lehigh Area, formulated an idea to buy land and construct a recreation/community center and offer educational and fitness programs.

A 501(c)(3) classification and logo were obtained, and a board of directors and mission statement were created. A website (www.nlcommunitycenter.com) was established and fundraising began.

After raising $736,000 through state grants and citizen contributions, the group purchased land; demolished existing buildings on the land; installed infrastructure for drainage; secured a 50-year lease for adjacent property, and began construction of Phase 1, the building shell.

To continue with the construction, the group applied for additional grants and contributions, but these funds never materialized. Currently, the group is debt-free.

A Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority was formed with the advice of then state Rep. Julie Harhart to include the three municipalities of the Northern Lehigh School District residents and have more avenues available to obtain funding to finish the construction of the building.

Lack of funds

Since the Northern Lehigh Playground Association relinquished the programs to the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority, Raber said the income stream has been severely curtailed.

“We no longer have the funds to pay our insurance and real estate taxes,” the authority said. “We need help to generate $1.5 million to finish the existing Phase 1.”

Phase 2 would consist of the construction of the gymnasium at a much lower cost. Substantial donors could have their names placed on the outside of the building.

“We could gift the building to be used for the positive benefit of our community - such as the school for a lifelong learning center, borough or township for a recreation/educational center,” she said. “We could sell the building and land and give the proceeds to the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority to continue running the programs.”

As it stands, the authority said, “Our miracle would be for a large or a few large donors to help complete our project,” she said. “Our worst scenario is we would sell our building and donate the proceeds to the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority which currently provides educational and recreational events for our Northern Lehigh area.”