Avery County Community Center | By Steve York

Community Garden

In the Nick of Time

Avery County Community Center Today & Tomorrow

By Steve York

They say that “timing is everything if life.” Well, whoever they are, they sure pegged it right regarding the completion of the new Avery County Community Center, part of the greater Heritage Park complex in Newland, NC. As providence would have it, the opening of the Center’s doors to the public was perfectly timed. Why? COVID vaccinations! And we’ll get back to that shortly. But first…

For those yet to visit, the new Avery Community Center is located behind Newland’s Ingles/Roses shopping center on the Avery County Fair Grounds at Heritage Park. It’s part of a 10,000-squarefoot combined facility that houses both the County Extension offices for the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Services and the newer Community Center.

The two-phase architectural plans were developed by Boomerang Design in Charlotte and construction was by Garanco General Contractors out of Pilot Mountain. The 5,000-square-foot Extension Offices were completed in August of 2018 and the additional 5,000-square-foot Community Center was completed in November of 2020.

The genesis for the full complex concept dates back to the early 2000s, with formal planning having begun in 2012. The long-term vision for the entire 51.63-acre Heritage Park development, as stated in their formal plan, is to “…incorporate the priorities and desires of Avery County residents in hopes of attracting new visitors and making the Avery County fairgrounds a destination for year-round programs and activities.”

County Extension Director Jerry Moody detailed the big-picture vision this way: “We had six phases planned, of which only the equestrian center and the hiking trails are yet to be completed. The four that are complete include the community gardens, with over 35 families participating, the Cooperative Extension Center, the Regional Agricultural Pesticide collection facility and the new Avery County Community Center.”

Moody went on to add, “All of this could not have been accomplished if we hadn’t received input from as many citizens as possible. We tried to get suggestions from everyone and work them into a plan to present to the Avery Board of Commissioners. And we are thankful for their leadership, as well as their decision to run with our ideas to fund this complex.”

Of course, during those early planning days, no one expected that this new Community Center would be converted into a mass vaccination hub. “Ironically, we couldn’t have planned a better Grand Opening for the Community Center portion of the complex,” noted Phillip Barrier, Avery County Manager for the past four years. “Not that a pandemic was the most desirable way for us to open the Center’s doors to the community, of course. But, about the time we were considering how to conduct a formal opening, Avery County was tasked with providing a large, central location for COVID vaccinations. And, in the process of meeting that challenge, the new Community Center saw several thousand people streaming through our doors over just a few months, giving them a unique opportunity to really check the place out while getting their shots,” said Barrier.

“I have to heap high praise on ‘Team Avery’ for the heroic job they’ve done,” continued Barrier. “And I’m talking about everybody, including the Extension staff, the Health Department, EMS, 911, Fire and Rescue, Parks & Recreation, DSS, all Avery Towns, student nurses from Mayland Community College, the Sheriff’s Department, the National Guard, the Senior Center, Avery Schools and more. They really stepped up, pulled together and provided a completely safe, coordinated and comfortable process for everyone coming for their first and second vaccinations. And special thanks to Paul Buchanan, Avery County’s Emergency Manager,” Barrier added. “Way back in March of 2020, he initiated our weekly emergency team meetings to help organize people and resources. The first shots were administered on January 12, 2021. As of early May, we had provided 5,000 vaccinations.”

Post pandemic, the vision for the entire Heritage Park setting going forward only gets more exciting. County Extension Service capabilities have now been greatly enhanced by the new facility and grounds. Agri-Horticultural educational programs have modern onsite indoor and outdoor settings—complete with an outdoor amphitheater. 4-H and other youth development courses have an ideal central location to hold their activities. And all Avery County Extension Services staff have a well-designed facility from which to serve the community.

The building’s exterior design was of special importance to community planners. “We wanted it to be very warm and welcoming, almost like a Cracker Barrel restaurant, where people could feel comfortable,” said Moody. “And we are very happy with how it turned out. For anyone wanting to use the facility for group events, they can contact us in person, by phone or at our website.”

The Community Center was designed to be spacious and able to accommodate future demands. Its interior includes a giant indoor stage, plus a state-of-the-art