Photograph by Aaron Suozzi
Columbia Middle School's Joshua Murphy shoots hoops amid the hubub at the dedication og the Columbia Neighborhood Center.
By KATHERINE PETERSEN
Sixteen members of Columbia Middle School's boys and girls basketball teams burst through a paper sign emblazoned with the bulldog logo and loped around the gym in pairs. Each player picked up a basketball and threw a lay-up shot to conclude the dedication ceremony of the Columbia Neighborhood Center.
About 1,000 north Sunnyvale families and children got their first chance to explore the new neighborhood center Sept. 21. Dedicated in memory of the late John Christian, who headed up the city's Parks and Recreation department for eight years, the Columbia Neighborhood Center is meant to be a neighborhood for educational, health and recreational services for the community.
The center was built through a unique partnership between local government, schools and industry. The City of Sunnyvale and the Sunnyvale Elementary School District joined forces to create the center and involved residents, nonprofit agencies and representatives from local businesses to plan and deliver services at the center.
The city, school district and Sunnyvale-based microchip maker Advanced Micro Devices dedicated the AMD Sports and Service Center and introduced the Columbia Neighborhood Center to the public at the grand opening celebration.
The dedication ceremony was emceed by Kate Kelly of KPIX Channel 5, and Delaine Eastin, California State Superintendent of Instruction, delivered the keynote address.
The centerpiece of the Columbia project is the new $3.5 million AMD Sports and Service Center, which houses a gymnasium, counseling rooms, health information center and offices. AMD contributed $1 million to the facility.
More than just a building, the Columbia Neighborhood Center is a new approach to improving student educational performance and reducing crime by bringing a wide range of public and community services to the neighborhoods served by Columbia Middle School and nearby elementary schools.
Throughout the day, children and families watched sports demonstrations, toured exhibits and learned about the center's services.
"Our goal is to launch the Columbia Center as genuine neighborhood resource for our residents in north Sunnyvale and the community in general," said Elaine Curran, the project's coordinator.
In addition to the grand opening ceremony at the center, the city offered presentations and displays by city departments, including public safety, the library and parks and recreation.
These presentations will provide a convenient opportunity for citizens to meet city staff and ask questions directly to department heads regarding city programs, services and issues.
The Columbia Neighborhood Center is located at 739 Morse Avenue.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, September 25, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.