KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) — This holiday season, the city of Kentwood has an extra reason to celebrate: the groundbreaking of its new 72,000-square foot community center.

“People were cheering and yelling and clapping because this has been a dream for so long, and it’s now reality,” Mayor Stephen Kepley said of Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony.

The plan has been in the works for more than two decades.

The community center, located at 4755 Walma Ave. SE south of 44th Street SE, will have a room to host up to 250 people. It will also have an indoor track, three full-sized basketball courts, an inclusive fitness center and some other bells and whistles.

“You have older people playing with younger people,” Kepley said. “And not just like sports, but we have a simulator where if you can’t get out on the field and run, you can actually play sports, which has AI in it.”

The mayor says the space is needed, with Kentwood growing quickly.

On Friday, the city of Kentwood hosted its holiday parade and tree lighting. The new community center will also be home to a new Christmas tree for future lighting ceremonies.

“We have a spot where we actually want to plant a tree, so it grows as the community grows,” Kepley said.

The community center is expected to open in 2026.