PRESS RELEASE - Community Center Public Presentation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

March 5, 2021

Contact socialmedia@upperdarby.org 

REINVESTMENT CONTINUES IN UPPER DARBY: MAYOR KEFFER’S COMMUNITY CENTER PUBLIC PRESENTATION SET FOR MARCH 10

UPPER DARBY, PA — Mayor Barbarann Keffer will be holding a virtual public presentation of the plans for the new Upper Darby Community Center On Wednesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. This event will be an opportunity for residents to review the initial design and plans, and provide input on this important project, which is currently in the feasibility phase. Pre-registration is required; individuals can register online via the Township website at www.upperdarby.org, or they can call 610-734-7625 to register by telephone. 

The location of the proposed Center is 7000 Walnut Street, which is currently the site of the Upper Darby Welcome Center. Mayor Keffer and her administration are working with BKP (Buell Kratzer Powell), the architecture firm that was awarded the feasibility bid through the township's Community Development Block Grant program, on the planning for and design of the new Center. 

“This community center is needed at this location,” Mayor Keffer said. “It would be a big step in the right direction toward the revitalization of Upper Darby. We are a dynamic community for families and businesses, and we welcome input from residents throughout the Township to create the best center possible.” 

Partial funding for the project comes from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), a state grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.  

“We are deeply grateful to all of the elected officials and community groups who believe, as I do, that Upper Darby deserves a state-of-the-art recreation and learning facility,” Mayor Keffer continued. “From after-school tutoring to computer access to urban farming, adult education, and physical fitness, this center will serve as a catalyst for our business district and a springboard for whatever our individual residents can imagine.”

The Mayor's vision for the Community Center stems from her belief that reinvestment raises the quality of life for all residents and from her experiences playing and coaching basketball. Her initiative to establish a Community Center has received strong support from Upper Darby Township Council, State Representatives Margo Davidson and Mike Zabel, State Senator Tim Kearney, as well as community members across the education, religious, and business sectors. The Upper Darby School Board, Delaware County Parks & Recreation, the Cobbs Creek West Community Association, and the Bywood Community Association also support this endeavor. 

Upper Darby is Pennsylvania’s sixth-largest municipality, and Mayor Keffer is committed to revitalizing its public facilities, neighborhoods, and parks. Elected in 2019 after serving on Council for six years, Mayor Keffer has focused her efforts on reform, revitalization, and reinvestment into Upper Darby. Keffer is also working to make the community more inclusive and grow it as a regional leader for families and businesses.  

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