Community Development Finance Alliance recently provided a $10M NMTC allocation to fill a $2.25M funding gap for the new construction of a 68,900 square foot community recreation center, which replaces the original facility of the same name on the corner of 28th Street and Lincoln Avenue in the Massey neighborhood in downtown Ogden (222 28th St). U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance was the NMTC Investor.
The original Marshall N. White Center was dedicated in 1968, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the death of Marshall N. White, an Ogden police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Over the past 50+ years, the Center has been a cherished hub for the Ogden community. Sponsored by the City of Ogden, the new, significantly larger facility—nearly twice the size of the original—will expand its offerings to better serve the surrounding severely distressed neighborhood.
The updated Center features a wide range of recreational opportunities and community services, including art programs, a teaching kitchen, basketball courts, an indoor running track, a boxing ring, and a field house designed to support activities such as softball, baseball, lacrosse, cheer, soccer, and more. It will also include a weightlifting area, a cardio room equipped with state-of-the-art fitness equipment, and multipurpose spaces for community events.
One of the most beloved features of the original Center, the swimming pool, was closed in 2018 due to safety concerns, sparking discussions on how to address the aging building and enhance recreational opportunities for the community. The new facility will bring back this cherished amenity with a modernized swimming pool complex, featuring a traditional lap pool and an expanded children’s water play area with water park features.
Outside, the Center will feature a variety of additional amenities designed to enhance community engagement and recreational opportunities. These include a basketball court, a playground, and pickleball courts. The outdoor space will also include a versatile multi-use field, accommodating activities such as flag football, 7v7 football, T-ball, soccer, and lacrosse, providing a dynamic and inclusive environment for participants of all ages and interests.
Beyond recreational services, the facility will also address critical community needs by offering 16 Head Start childcare slots for very low-income households. This program will operate in a leased portion of the building and be managed by the Ogden-Weber Community Action Partnership, providing essential early childhood education and support services to families in need.
The Center will significantly benefit the surrounding community by providing after-school, weekend and summer activities for children, as well as year-round recreation and health programs for adults. Usage and attendance in the activities operated by the facility will be tracked with reports provided to funding sources for the project.
A severely-distressed census tract with a median family income of less than 48.24% of AMI, 34% of the population living in poverty and an Unemployment Rate of that is 2.04 X the national average. An estimated 19 full-time and 39 part-time positions will be created and/or retained by the project. Across all its services it is anticipated to serve over 70K individuals each year.
Construction of the project began in July of 2023, and is anticipated to be completed by the end of April 2025, with program operations beginning in May, almost immediately upon completion. BHI is the general contractor for the project, which was designed by VCBO Architecture.
Total project costs are estimated at $38MM (including over $30MM in construction costs), leaving a gap of approximately $2.25MM to be filled with NMTC equity. If not for the NMTC allocation, the community center was in the process of reducing the scope of the outdoor recreational facilities, landscaping and other outdoor features, which would have had an detrimental impact on the surrounding neighborhood.