The newly renovated Citrus Heights Community Center at 6921Sylvan Road and Community Drive will be a holding grand opening ceremony event with a ribbon cutting and special guests on Saturday, October 29 from 9 to 11 a.m.

The Veterans Golf Park, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, run by Jim and Jean Rounsavell, just completed renovations to the former Sylvan Schoolhouse for the veteran’s community center, finally bringing it from the 19th into the 21st century.

This event has long been coming as the little yellow schoolhouse on Sylvan Road at Community Drive has finally come of age. It is being prepared to be officially presented to the public again in its newly renovated state after three long years of volunteer blood, sweat and tears to make the facility fully Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant.

During those three years it has taken the help of the City, dozens of businesses and community volunteers and even local philanthropic organizations to complete the project, spending thousands of hours and dollars in in-kind donations. During renovation the center has remained open with hospitality volunteers working Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1p.m. with plans to extend hours to 5 p.m. in the future.  The ladies provide refreshments, companionship and a safe place for veterans to relax and enjoy fellowship. Volunteers are always welcome.

The building and grounds will be officially dedicated on Saturday, October 29 at 9 a.m. A celebration is being planned to introduce the newly refurbished building to the public and to thank the many volunteers who have poured m any hundreds of hours of free labor, donated materials and love into the project.

The public is invited to attend the grand opening. The morning will kick off with the Citrus Heights Police Department Honor Guard. Former police chief Christopher Boyd, will perform the ribbon cutting ceremony in his new position as city manager.

Special guests include supporters of the center Congressman Dr. Ami Bera; Assemblyman Ken Cooley, State Senator Jim Nielsen, new City Manager Chris Boyd, and the Citrus Heights City Council.

The Center has sponsored a successful Marine Corp Toys for Tots toy collection drive for several years.

Other special guests include former KCRA news anchor, journalist, and Korean War veteran Stan Atkinson, the Center’s Chaplain, Steve White, and Sacramento and Folsom Blue Star Moms.

Visitors can tour the facility, inside and out to see the new patio, the cement sidewalk completely surrounding the facility to accommodate wheelchairs, and the new ADA restrooms with access from both inside the building and outside to accommodate visitors during barbeques and other outdoor events. The Center’s first major project was the installation of a regulation horseshoe court and observation deck by Bill Howell and a dozen Hewlett Packard volunteers in June of 2014.

The Citrus Heights Veteran’s Community Center welcomes veterans and their families from communities in the greater Sacramento area. It is the only facility of its kind in the area, offering friendly, non-governmental assistance to our veterans.

The Center will not only continue to provide a place for all veterans to reminisce and share their experiences, but will also eventually offer golf lessons for disabled veterans, particularly those with post-traumatic stress disorder (“PTSD”) or traumatic brain injury (“TBI”). The Center was recently gifted a ParaGolfer from a generous patron. It will allow paralyzed veterans and others the opportunity to stand and play golf and other sports again.

Any interested veterans, or other individual who would like to donate their time, talents, or resources to the Center, are welcome to contact Jim Rounsavell at (916)757-9193 or [email protected].