CLAY CITY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Community leaders including “Recreation Education Information and Nutrition Center Coalition” and county commissioners broke ground on a new community center in Clay City, IN.

The Wilma & Liston Buell Community Center in Clay City will house a fitness area, library and much more. David Kirkling, president of the R.E.I.N Center Coalition says this process has been in the works for the last 10 years.

“When we first started, we had a certain amount of money and we were going to build just a conventional metal building,” Kirkling said. “Now we have a donor that donated money to build this community center in the name of his mom and dad, Wilma and Liston Buell.”

The Buell community center will be in Goshen Park, an upgrade from their current orange building.

“It basically has seen it’s better days,” Clay County commissioner Paul Sinders said. “There is no air conditioning and the heating system does not work well in the winter time and in all honesty, it’s time to move on and this new facility is going to be great to meet the many needs that we have for a meeting place in the Clay City area.”

Community leaders were adamant that this new facility will be for everyone in the Wabash Valley and not just Clay City.

“Terriffic and wonderful day for the people of this community and really for Clay County and Wabash Valley as far as I’m concerned,” Sinders said. “It’s a blessing for everyone in this area.”

Construction is expected to begin next week with completion slated for the end of 2020 or early next year.