Mission: The mission of the Bridgton Community Center is the following:

• To provide and promote public well-being
• To enhance the quality of life for all generations in the community

History:  In 1998, the U.S. Army closed the doors of the Bridgton Armory, located at 15 Depot Street, and agreed to transfer the building to the Town of Bridgton. That spring voters decided that the building should become a multi-generational community center. First, however, the building was needed to house an education and retraining facility serving some 300 unemployed residents when the Bridgton Knitting Mill closed suddenly in 1998. Over the course of two years an Armory Committee researched and developed a proposal detailing how the building could function as the Bridgton Community Center.

Though we have been able to use the building as a community center since 2001, the actual transfer of the deed from the Army to the Town of Bridgton did not take place until the fall of 2006. The town celebrated with a reception at the Center attended by Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, whose office was instrumental in attaining the deed.

During the past six years the Bridgton Community Center has evolved from an idea into a valuable and energetic community resource. Classes in the areas of crafts, cooking, self-improvement, computer usage, hobbies, music and do-it-yourself instruction are among the activities offered here. The Center also hosts clubs, camps, special events, workshops, drop-in programs, after-school programs and cultural activities at different times. Preschoolers, children, teens, adults and senior citizens find a variety of opportunities available at the Bridgton Community Center.

Facilities: Meeting rooms, a kitchen, multi-purpose activity room and computer room are some of the components of the Center. Outdoor amenities include a fenced-in playground, horseshoe pit and community garden. Thanks to the work of volunteers, including a Boy Scout working on his Eagle project, the Bridgton Community Center is accessible to persons with disabilities

Governing Board:  The Bridgton Community Center is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is responsible for the Mission Statement for our organization and for raising the funds necessary to meet our goals. The Executive Director oversees all employees and programs of the Center.

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	For more information, please contact:
	Carmen Lone, Executive Director
	Bridgton Community Center
15 Depot Street	Phone: (207) 647-3116	armory@megalink.net
Bridgton, Maine 04009	Fax: (207) 647-3115	www.bridgtoncommunitycenter.org