A long-awaited community center in the Northern Lehigh area hopes to garner additional funds to help complete the facility.

To further that progress, State Rep. Julie Harhart (R-183) held a special meeting on Wednesday at her Slatington branch office concerning the Northern Lehigh Community Center, located at 545 W. Church St., Slatington.Officials in attendance were Michael Wentz, Walnutport Borough; Gwen Neff and David Schnaars, Slatington Borough; Josh Friebolin, Washington Township; and Robert Berger, Ricky Smith, and Paul Gass, community center board members.Lorne Possinger, recreation and parks adviser, Department of Community and Natural Resources, pitched the idea of the center becoming a Regional Recreational Organization, which he said could boost the group's chances of securing more funding.Possinger said that rather than target just the community center, the group should look to connect it with things such as the Rails to Trails, in an effort to get more funds."They were very receptive to it," Harhart said. "Now, the big issue is we have to get the municipalities on board."A resolution would have to be approved by each municipality, as there would have to be a peer-to-peer study, feasibility study, and the hiring of a circuit writer, Harhart said.She added "The community is anxious to really see how we can move ahead to see how we can get this community center finished."The center was a topic of discussion at Thursday night's Walnutport Borough Council meeting.Council President Matthew Newhard questioned how a regional recreational organization would benefit Walnutport, likening it to regional police programs in other areas which, he said, have failed in the past."We have more to lose than anybody," Newhard said, noting that Walnutport is one of the largest holders of recreational properties in the county, if not the state.Smith pointed out that, because Walnutport is located within Northampton County, it receives gaming money, whereas Slatington and Washington Township do not. He also noted that the community center would be available to all Northern Lehigh School District residents.The council said it will look into contributing one third, or $333, toward the peer study but would not yet commit to anything else.The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Harhart's Slatington office, located at Slatington Borough Hall, 125 S. Walnut Street.The community center has been about 14 years in the making, according to the group's website,

www.nlcommunitycenter.com.Phase I construction of the building has begun, and will encompass 10,000-square-feet that will be comprised of an exercise room with equipment and weights; meeting rooms; activity rooms; an art room; computer area; locker rooms with showers; a kitchen; office space; and more.Phase II will be 6,000 square feet, and will house the gymnasium. Upon completion of Phase I, and availability of funding, Phase II will begin.The Northern Lehigh Playground Association trading as the Northern Lehigh Community Center, is a 501C3 agency.The group holds monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at the Vigilant Fire Company, Slatington.Correspondent Sharon Stanley contributed to this report.