ELKHART, Ind. -- The Tolson Center in Elkhart held a ribbon cutting event this Sunday, revealing to the public it’s $16 million outdoor project. 

The new outdoor space has an ADA accessible playground with swings, slides, and climbing nets. Alongside the playground are courts for basketball and pickle ball, as well as a full-length soccer field.

The outdoor expansion comes just two years after the main building opened, a 30,000 square foot complex with gyms and recreational spaces for art. 

The board members honored the Tolson Center’s history as a community space in the neighborhood during the ribbon cutting event.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Breanna Allen, Executive Director of the Tolson Center. “But today isn’t just a ribbon cutting and a grand opening. It’s a declaration of progress that is still alive.” 

The dream of The Tolson Center has been alive for over a decade. The original community center was replaced during a push for urban renewal, and came back to Benham Ave in the 1990’s.

In 2018, the space lost city funding, and the community stepped up to revitalize the space as an independent nonprofit. 

“This site, both inside and outside, serve as a continuous beacon of what happens when people come together, make sure they’re doing the right thing and work on the reconnection and the regeneration of this neighborhood,” said Levon Johnson, President and CEO of The Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce. 

The outdoor space is now open to the public during the Tolson Center’s regular business hours.