Norwood Community Center Opens Doors for Citizen Recreation Programs Under Director Kevin Dixon-September 15, 1969

Offering a wide array of activities despite ongoing needs for complete recreational equipment, the new Norwood Community Center at 820 Washington St. officially opened its doors to the public today.

Initial Programs, Swimming Schedules, and Future Offerings

Recreation Director Kevin Dixon announced the facility’s debut, noting that introductory offerings include slimnastics and modern dance geared primarily toward young women. The slimnastics program launched today, while modern dance classes are scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. on September 23 under the instruction of Mrs. Joan Ward, who will also teach elementary and junior high school drama classes on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Baton twirling and marching instruction for beginners and experienced participants will be held Monday afternoons, taught by Mrs. Faye L. Mullarkey.

In addition to gymnasium and classroom activities, Dixon announced an experimental schedule for the indoor swimming pool:

Men’s Swim Hours: Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Women’s Swim Hours: Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

General scheduling establishes men’s programs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, while women’s programs run Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Dixon also reported that preliminary organization has begun for men’s basketball leagues, with 12 to 14 teams anticipated this season compared to eight the previous year.

Looking ahead, Dixon outlined major projects slated once the building is fully operational, including establishing a dedicated senior citizens group—potentially utilizing daytime meeting rooms for card games—and creating a teenage “drop-in” center. “The community center is there for the enjoyment of the taxpayer in Norwood,” Dixon emphasized, encouraging residents to contact recreation personnel with program ideas. “If we get mobbed, great.”

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger

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