The Kenan Center, located in Lockport, NY, is wrapping up construction on its $16.5 million civic arena facility that will encompass a fitness center, turf field, computer lab, art studio, sport courts, concessions, classrooms, and a front desk to the Kenan Center’s campus.
On Saturday, September 5, the Kenan Center’s 25-acre regional community oriented campus will be home to the highly anticipated state-of-the-art Kenan Civic Arena. The Civic Center Arena is considered the icing on the cake for the historic campus, which features a1859 Victorian mansion gallery, The Taylor Theater, formal gardens, and a Montessori preschool.
Throughout the year, the campus is home to a wide range of events, craft shows, and local festivals. The 70,000 SF Kenan Civic Arena will serve Lockport-area families with recreation and community programming.
“The Kenan Civic Arena is going to change what is possible in Lockport. It will bring thousands of people into our community, create new opportunities for kids and families, support our local economy, and give organizations across Western New York a place to compete, create, perform, and connect. We believe this facility will become a destination, but most importantly, it will always belong to the community that built it,” said Bill Patti, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenan Center.
The Kenan Civic Center Arena will host a ribbon cutting on Saturday, September 5, with a free, family-friendly celebration running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event is free to attend and open to the public. Highlights include:
- Musician Dave Turner will perform at 11 a.m., followed by a set from The Strictly Hip at 1:30 p.m.
- Local artist Nikki Milley will paint a live mural throughout the day and raffle off the finished piece, with proceeds split between Milley and the Kenan Center.
- The arena’s new turf field and sport courts get their first action from the community, with local youth sports leagues on the schedule throughout the day.
- Outside, more than 75 local vendors will set up shop, with the celebration moving indoors to the old arena in the event of rain.
- The original arena space will also host a Kenan Arena yard sale, offering a nod to the building’s history as the new chapter begins.
“For almost 60 years, our old arena has been where this community showed up for each other, to play, to cheer, to celebrate. This new arena carries that same spirit forward. It means Lockport and Western New York families will have a place to gather for generations to come, and that this community’s story keeps being written here,” said Lea Sobieraski, Chief Operating Officer of the Kenan Center.
Daylong festival features a ribbon cutting, live music, a live mural painting, youth sports, and over 75 local vendors
The Western New York community is encouraged to attend the opening ceremonies for the new Civic Center Arena.
The Kenan Civic Arena grand opening is free to attend and open to the public. For more information, visit kenancenter.org.