Hundreds of people joined the party Saturday to celebrate a milestone for Vancouver’s Marshall Community Center.
The center celebrated (a few weeks early) its 50th birthday by inviting the whole community to a family fun day full of free activities. Marshall Center, named for Gen. George C. Marshall, was dedicated to the community on July 2, 1965.
In the 50 years since, hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of people have come through the doors of Marshall Community Center, said Andy Meade, the center director. Meade often hears stories of how the center has affected the lives of people in Vancouver. Many people who grew up in the area learned to swim in the center’s pool, the original shell of which is still in use, Meade said.
Count Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt among those young swimmers.
“This is where I learned how to swim,” Leavitt told visitors and dignitaries in a brief ceremony. “This is where I learned to play pool. This is where I played a lot of basketball and volleyball.
“It’s a very special place in my life, as well,” he said.
Leavitt and former Mayor Bruce Hagensen — with the help of about a dozen kids — cut a ceremonial ribbon at the center’s entrance to celebrate the occasion. Former center employees and current and past elected officials joined the group outside.
Inside, hundreds of people took advantage of the free activities.
In the pottery studio, Kaylee Gibbs, 7, tried her hand at the pottery wheel, molding a lump of clay into a small pot while her younger sister twisted pieces of clay into small flowers.
“These activities are great,” said Kaylee’s mom, Courtney Gibbs of Vancouver. “Whenever they offer free, family activities, it’s fun.”
After the pottery studio, the family headed to the pool, where family swim sessions ran all day. In the gymnasium, kids played basketball, kicked balls into soccer nets and ran through an agility course. Fitness classes took place in the center’s studios, and the Vancouver Cooperative Preschool hosted craft projects and face-painting.
In the teen center, parents and kids challenged each other to games of Mario Kart on the Wii, air hockey, ping pong and foosball. A table covered with markers and stickers gave kids everything they needed to decorate plastic boomerangs.
Rachel Ikonomou of Vancouver and her family checked out several of the center’s offerings Saturday — their first time visiting the center.
“We have four kids under 10, so we’re always looking for things to do in Vancouver,” she said.
Ikonomou recently signed all of the kids up for swimming lessons at the city’s Firstenburg Community Center. The two youngest — Kai, 4, and Gigi, 3 — ventured into the Marshall pool Saturday to get familiar with the water before their lessons start.
Venturing into a new place with four young kids can be intimidating, Ikonomou said. The open house was an opportunity to learn about the center with other newcomers, she said.
“A family day like today lets us experience everything without feeling intimidated,” she said. “After today, we want to come back. We had no idea what it had to offer.”
