U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressmember Kathleen Rice today announced $1,397,439 in federal funding to the city of Long Beach for repairs to the Magnolia Senior Community Center and Recreation Center as a result of Superstorm Sandy. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding will specifically fund the rebuilding of the child care center, new locker rooms in the recreational center, a new filtration system for the pool, a new glass atrium, new cardio and weight equipment, new flooring in the cardio and weight rooms and electrical wiring replacement. The Center provides wellness, cultural and recreational programs to the community. This funding allows for the remaining Sandy-related repairs at the Magnolia Senior Community Center and Recreation Center, as most of the work has already been completed.
“Magnolia Senior Community and Recreation Center serves a vital purpose for many families and seniors in the Long Beach community and that’s why federal funding to make sure the Center is fully rebuilt and repaired is so important,” said Senator Schumer. “Over $1 million in FEMA funds will help make sure the final repairs are completed including rebuilding the hard-hit Magnolia Child Care Center and making sure the rest of the recreation center—from the locker rooms to the weight rooms to the pool—are as good as new.”
“Superstorm Sandy devastated our communities and this critical FEMA funding will help provide resources on the ground to rebuild Magnolia Senior Community Center and Recreation Center,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Restoring our recreational centers is a critical part of our ongoing recovery and these federal funds are an investment in the community and families that live on Long Island.”
“Superstorm Sandy took an especially heavy toll on seniors and on the public spaces that are at the heart of our sense of community in Long Beach,” said Representative Kathleen Rice. “Rebuilding the Senior Community Center and Recreation Center is a crucial step in our continued recovery, and I’m pleased this federal funding will help cover a significant portion of the costs. I’ll continue working with Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to ensure our district gets the resources we need to fully recover from the storm and come back stronger than ever.”
“This federal funding helps cover significant costs associated with the rebuilding of our recreation and senior community centers,” said City Council President Len Torres. “It is the assistance from Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, along with Congresswoman Rice, that enables us to rebuild stronger, smarter, and safer, and we cannot thank them enough for all of their help in securing these funds.”