An economic driver that will create jobs, generate tourism and let residents play pickleball — these are just some of the benefits that the planned Upper Macungie Township Community Center would provide, according to the nonprofit helping to build it. “[It’s] a center that will quickly become the region’s largest and best facility of its kind, an accessible space that will truly offer something for every resident, the gateway to the western edges of the Lehigh Valley, an instant township treasure and truly the heart of our community,” said Laura McHugh, vice chair of the fundraising nonprofit Upper Macungie Community Fund, during a Thursday presentation to township officials. Originally identified as a goal by the township Board of Supervisors in 2011, the 188,000-square-foot facility proposed for Grange Park would include a 130,000-square-foot indoor soccer field that comes with a surrounding running path, indoor basketball and volleyball courts, lounges, a workout area, a cafeteria and classrooms.
Using a video presentation that showed new renderings for the project, McHugh explained to supervisors that the facility could host many uses such as sporting events, celebrations for birthdays and graduations, concerts, classes and conferences — while serving as an emergency shelter in the event of natural disasters. Other amenities would include health fairs and screenings, support groups, vaccination clinics and an athletic trainer, according to the presentation. Th.
