Why Community Centers Matter for Public Health, Connection

By: Raymond Givargis, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP | Studio Director
Herson Suquino, AIA, NCARB | Senior Architect

This article was originally published by NJBIZ on December 8, 2025.

Community centers date back to the early 20th century, originally developed as a means of providing a dedicated space for working-class Americans to socialize, build camaraderie with one another, and unwind after long hours of manual labor. By the mid-1900s, community centers were a cornerstone of American life, with nearly 500 locations serving roughly four million people in New York City alone.

In recent decades, community centers have been on the decline. There are several reasons for this, including the increased privatization of once-public spaces, a shift in socialization toward digital spaces, and a lack of public funding to sufficiently operate these centers. Still, though community centers are fewer in number than in decades past, the demand for them remains strong. As more Americans report feelings of loneliness and isolation, the presence of community centers and other “third places”—locations where people can congregate in public outside of the home or work—has become all the more vital for our health, happiness, and sense of togetherness.

Benefits of Community Centers

According to a recent survey by the National Recreation and Park Association, roughly 91 percent of Americans believe that easy access to local community centers yields a benefit to their community. Athletic facilities, for example, help promote fitness, well-being, and collaboration. After-school programs, meanwhile, support youth development by improving academic performance through tutoring, fostering social interaction with other students, and reducing the likelihood of juvenile delinquency by giving kids a safe, supervised place to go after school. Programs associated with community centers also create new jobs, provide low-cost recreational opportunities for families, and improve property values in the area. Community centers help generate a sense of pride and ownership in the neighborhood and provide space for residents to congregate, organize, and address the pressing issues of the community.

Obtaining Community Buy-In

Because community centers serve a wide spectrum of users and needs, input on programs should come from a wide spectrum of residents. Public presentations are a valuable way to educate the public on the goals and challenges associated with developing the community center. Valuable community input on programs and other matters of concern can be obtained through canvassing techniques such as surveys and public hearings. Public engagement should cover a variety of demographics—including people of different ages, ethnicities, cultures, religions, income levels, geographic areas, and more—to ensure that feedback is as representative of the entire community as possible. By understanding the wants, needs, and hesitations of community members, designers can create a community center custom-tailored to the residents who use it, building good will and support from the public along the way.

Making the Most of Space

Knowing which programs a community wants is one thing; effectively implementing those programs into the facility design is another. Flexibility is key when a long list of program needs bumps up against real-world space and cost limitations. Multipurpose rooms can be tailored to a variety of activities with the understanding that different groups of patrons use community center spaces at different times, allowing multiple programs to coexist within the same room. For example, a single classroom space could host Medicare information sessions for seniors in the morning, after-school tutoring for kids in the afternoon, and community meeting space for local organizations in the evening. Additionally, when deciding on which spaces should fulfill which program needs, it is important to consider the context of the broader building layout. Athletic programs should ideally be hosted in spaces closer to the locker rooms; likewise, programs for seniors and people with mobility challenges should be located closer to the entrance and/or parking lot.

Financing a Community Center

Community centers are generally funded via municipal bonds, private-sector sponsors, or some combination of the two. Bonding is a process that requires both public hearings and a public referendum vote. At this juncture, it is highly beneficial to have a design that incorporates the feedback of constituents, because they are able to see how a community center will directly benefit them. Furthermore, showing the public that there is a concrete plan for their community center will help assuage concerns about a long, drawn-out construction process by providing a clear timeline and expectations. Charging modest membership fees can help recoup some of the development and operational costs while also localizing the expense of those costs to residents who use the community center rather than the tax bills of those who do not.

Donors and sponsors can be courted privately, with the option for businesses to advertise on the property (e.g. banners above a basketball court or public pool) or offer their products and services through the center itself (e.g. summer athletic programs for kids). Another way to offset costs is by encouraging relevant businesses to donate items, such as computers and athletic equipment, for use in the center.

Consult with an Expert

Experienced multidisciplinary consultants can work with project stakeholders in both private and public sectors to help navigate all stages of the project, from community outreach to financial analysis to project design, and more. Communities overwhelmingly support the kinds of services and programs provided by the community centers — the only issue is getting started. By applying creative thinking and a collaborative spirit, project stakeholders can meet the needs of their neighbors by giving them a center designed by the community, for the community.

Contact Our Specialists:

Raymond Givargis, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
Studio Director
rgivargis@h2m.com
646.931.7938

Herson Suquino, AIA, NCARB
Senior Architect
hsuquino@h2m.com
646.931.7404