Mayor Dean Esposito was at the DCC on Tuesday, October 24 to present Connecticut Institute For Communities, inc. (CIFC) with a $61,624 check to support recreational activities at the Danbury Community Center (DCC). The money came from the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security), a federal program that provided money aid organizations and businesses hurt by the pandemic as well as provide cities funds to aid in recovery. The Danbury Community Center has a deep history in this community, first serving as a recreational facility for St. Peter’s School many years ago before being owned by the YMCA. It was after the YMCA closed this site, when it needed great repairs, that CIFC stepped up to the plate to rehabilitate this facility and then to open it to the public.
Mayor Esposito's office's choice to allocate funds for the DCC continues his consistent support for CIFC and aligns with his priorities for increasing the wellness of the residents of Danbury. In his remarks, Mayor Esposito said he was “thrilled to present CIFC with this allocation of CARES Act money to support all of the incredible services they provide at the Danbury Community Center.” He went on to call CIFC is “a pillar of our community,” and said he was "grateful for all they do for Danbury’s residents.” The DCC also aligns to other recent openings of recreation opportunities for the residents Danbury. The DCC is now one of several places in Danbury to play pickleball, but has the unique advantage of having indoor courts. The DCC also offers year-round access to volleyball, basketball, yoga, Zumba, and aquatics.
CIFC CEO Katie Curran described the importance of these opportunities, “These are all activities that are not only enjoyable, but they are so important to the well-being of our youth, individuals, and families when we note that obesity, mental health challenges, and lack of access to recreational activities and facilities all disproportionately impact minority and low income communities, as well as individuals of color.” Moreover, as the DCC has the only publicly available pool in Downtown Danbury, we are saving lives by teaching the children of Danbury how to swim and to prevent drowning, the third leading cause of unintentional injury and death.
CIFC would like to, once again, thank Mayor Esposito's office for recognizing the role the DCC has in the wellbeing of the citizens of Danbury. CIFC looks forward to further partnerships as we continue to add recreation opportunities and promote fitness and water safety in our community.
For more information about the Danbury Community Center, please visit: Danbury Community Center | Connecticut Institute for Communities (cifc.org)