The Newtown Community Center continues to enhance its offerings for community members and the broader community. Recently, the multi-generational hub, located at 8 Simpson St., announced that a children’s Splash Pad will be opening in 2027, and now the center will be adding a new basketball court at its Fairfield Hills campus. It’s slated for completion in June 2026, pending construction progress and weather conditions.
“Adding amenities like the basketball court – and upcoming features such as the splash pad – demonstrate a strong commitment to serving families and residents of all ages,” Matt Ariniello, director of the Newtown Community Center. “These investments reflect the center’s goal of continuously evolving to meet community needs, while also enhancing core services like childcare, camps, and afterschool programs with engaging, high-quality experiences.”
The court and its associated features are being funded by a $100,000 donation from Lindell Hertberg, a longtime Newtown resident and former youth basketball and softball coach. The courts will be dedicated to him.
“We’re grateful for this generous donation supporting this project,” said Ariniello, noting any additional funding required will be supported through the center’s capital planning efforts. “The center is always evaluating ways to expand recreational opportunities for the community. Basketball was a natural choice due to its broad appeal across age groups, accessibility, and strong local interest.
In addition to general use, this amenity will directly support the center’s childcare programming, camps, and afterschool programs by providing a dedicated space for structured activities and active play.”
According to John Voket, Newtown’s economic and community development director, these amenities make the Center an inviting destination. “It improves member recruitment and retention and makes Fairfield Hills and the Newtown community a better place to live or visit,” he said.
The court will be part of the outdoor recreation area with designated times for open play and structured programming. It will close at dusk.
“It’s designed to meet regulation standards, allowing for both casual play, and it will complement our current playground,” Ariniello said, adding the design conforms with the Center being on the list of the National Register of Historic Places. “The project has been thoughtfully planned to complement the historic nature of the site. Care has been taken to ensure that the design and placement of the court respect the character and significance of the property.”
Voket explained that the initial goal was to develop the Fairfield Hills campus as a public space that supports municipal services, recreation, and socialization, with a commercial, and most recently a residential, component so it would be self-sustaining or significantly less of a burden to taxpayers.
“Today, there’s a lot of interest in adaptive reuse for residential and commercial purposes, and Fairfield Hills provides a venue that doesn’t exist anywhere else in Fairfield County or in western Connecticut. I’m more optimistic than ever Newtown will begin realizing the self-sustaining goal for Fairfield Hills that was envisioned more than two decades ago,” he said.
Ariniello agrees the sports amenity factors into the town’s plan for the campus. “The redevelopment of the former hospital grounds focuses on creating a vibrant, community-centered space,” he said. “The addition of a basketball court enhances outdoor recreation offerings and supports the broader vision of making the area a destination for wellness, activity, and connection. It also strengthens the center’s ability to deliver high-quality childcare, camp, and afterschool programming that serves local families.”
