Hamilton Community Gymnasium Grand Opening Celebration and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The Novato Unified School District and the City of Novato are pleased to announce the official opening and the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Hamilton Community Gymnasium on Wednesday, September 12, 2012, beginning at 6:00 pm. Mix and mingle at a barbeque before the ceremony, starting at 5:00pm and join us for fun recreation activities in the gym after the ceremony.

The Hamilton Community Gymnasium is a joint project between the City of Novato (City) and the Novato Unified School District (NUSD). Since the 1960s, NUSD and the City of Novato have had reciprocal use agreements to share NUSD and City facilities for community recreation and education needs.

“We’re excited about this new gymnasium for Hamilton School and our partnership with the City to provide the children of Novato a gymnasium that can be used during the school day and a gymnasium for the community,” commented Dr. Shalee Cunningham, Superintendent of NUSD.

The City and NUSD began discussing a joint gymnasium project at Hamilton Elementary back in the early 2000s. Due to a lack of funding and a master plan for Hamilton Elementary, the project did not move forward. Since that time, the City and NUSD secured funding, and a master plan was completed for Hamilton Elementary.

A $1M State of California grant was secured by the City from the Urban Parks and Healthy Communities program in the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002, for construction, to insure that active recreation opportunities for youth age 5 to 25 are provided at the new gym through June 2031.

Michael Frank, Novato City Manager, commented “By two public agencies collaborating to leverage resources, we are creating and sharing a community recreation facility that helps support an active and healthy life for our children and residents”.

The Hamilton Community Gymnasium will be home to many exciting City recreation programs, including sports activities, leagues, and other active recreation uses as well as serve as the assembly, cafeteria and gymnasium for Hamilton School. The gymnasium will also be available to the public to rent.