Q: WHY IS THE NICK CONSIDERING AN INDOOR FACILITY?
A: As an organization committed to providing space for our community to recreate and gather, we stay privy to the recreational needs in our surrounding communities. In 2019 our board began looking into the market and the feasibility of building an indoor recreational facility, which we identified as an overdue need in our community.

We conducted a community survey, sent to 7,267 local and seasonal residents, to gauge the interest in a multi-use indoor recreational facility. Results revealed that a local indoor space to recreate in the winter was the TOP priority of our community. We heard the need and began brainstorming.


Q:  WHAT WILL THE NEW FACILITY SUPPORT?
A: It will provide our community’s schools, municipalities, non-profits, sports leagues, and businesses with the space to grow their existing programs and services and make their programs year-round instead of being limited to outdoor/warm season offerings only.

Some examples of possible offerings are as follows:

  • Art classes, animal shows, story hour, live music, movie nights
  • Yoga, strength, stretching classes, walking, and running on a snow-free track.
  • Basketball, tennis, pickleball, and volleyball games
  • Lacrosse, soccer, field hockey, baseball/softball, floor hockey, flag football, wrestling, track and field practices
  • Gymnastics, tumbling, karate, Tai Chi, martial arts, dance
  • Farmers’ markets, craft fairs, expos, and other events that would attract people to Wolfeboro
  • Charity events, birthday parties, family reunions, graduation parties, school graduations, conferences, training, retreats, and other events
  • Community emergency shelter, mindfulness & mental health clinics

Q: WHO WILL THE NEW FACILITY SERVE?
A: Everyone! The Nick currently welcomes and serves 175,000+ athletes, families, and senior citizens from Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, Center Harbor, Ossipee, New Durham, Effingham, Brookfield, Alton, Middleton, Sanbornville, Gilmanton, Moultonborough, Meredith, Plymouth, Rochester, Belmont, Gilford, and many other towns beyond the Lakes Region. The Nick acts as a community hub, bringing people of all ages and financial abilities together.With a new facility, we will continue to serve the same people, but our new ability to welcome visitors in the winter, and our expanded sport and program offerings will allow us to serve even more of our community.
 

Q: WHAT INDOOR FACILITIES DOES WOLFEBORO CURRENTLY HAVE?
A: Kingswood Regional High School and Middle School basketball court (limited hours), Carpenter Elementary School gymnasium (limited hours), Brewster Academy track and weight room (for a fee, limited hours), and the Pop Whalen Ice Arena and Arts Center (for a fee, limited hours). Despite these facilities, many families still must regularly commute out of town for practices.

Q: WHY CAN’T RESIDENTS USE THESE FACILITIES? IS THERE A NEED FOR ANOTHER INDOOR FACILITY?
A: Although our local schools do have gyms, weight rooms, and basketball courts, these spaces are used by the students during the school day, after school, and on Saturdays for school sports and activities, leaving little to no time for public use or youth sports programs.

The exception is Brewster’s track and weight room, which is only open on weekday mornings, September through May, from 6 am to 10 am. It is closed from June through August and requires a membership. Although Brewster accommodates those who can afford membership fees and can get to the gym in the morning, it does not meet the needs of those who have children, work, or cannot afford the fees.

September through April, the Pop Whalen Ice Arena and Arts Center is used exclusively for hockey and skating, which does not allow this space to accommodate other activities such as basketball, walking, and various afterschool programs. Although the skating area is ice-free from May to August, the playing area is concrete, which is unsuitable for most indoor recreational activities. Parking at the Pop Whalen Ice Arena is also minimal, affecting the size of activities that can be held there.

Although some can travel out of town to participate in various programs and activities, or purchase at-home fitness equipment, most don’t have the time or resources. As a result, during the winter months, thousands of children, adults, and seniors go days and even weeks without participating in programs and activities that would benefit their mental and physical health.


Q: IS THE NICK PLANNING ON TRYING TO SATISFY THE SAME NEED AS THE WOLFEBORO PICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION?
A: It is our understanding that the pickleball association is planning on building a facility to host tournaments and elite competitions that require a different type of surface and court spacing than we are providing… ours is geared more for recreational use and not competitions.