Ascent Builders

SUISUN CITY — The old YMCA building that stood on Pintail Drive and East Wigeon Way turned to a new page Saturday for the grand opening of the 60,000-square-foot Kroc Corps Community Center.

Mayor Pete Sanchez, speaking during the morning’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, said the center is literally “Salvation Suisun.”

“Suisun City, you are the chosen one,” he said.

“Amen to that!” Tanya Hard of Suisun City yelled in response.

With that, the public had its first chance to tour the fitness center, cafe and aquatics facilities. Visitors were also treated to a free barbecue, performances by local bands, zip lines, and arts and crafts for young people.

The spectacle drew in hundreds of excited community members as well as several Salvation Army representatives, Salvation Army Capt. Jonathan Harvey, Rep. John Garamendi, Fairfield Mayor Harry Price, and Sanchez along with the Suisun City Council.

Garamendi called the facility “one of the great walls of this city.”

The community center is named after Joan Kroc, wife of McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc. This is the last of a series of community centers built by funds from the largest gift ever given to a private charity. The music and auditorium facilities will open later this summer.