Navy to Equip Base With Better Youth Center

Maureen Jones-Borden, who oversees the busy youth center at the Navy base, said she is looking forward to the new classrooms and computers that will be available when a larger, $2.6-million youth center opens next year at Point Mugu naval base.

“I’m excited to have bigger and better facilities,” she said. “It will provide the children with a lot more activities.”

About 100 people, including 85 youngsters hanging out Tuesday at the current 33-year-old youth center, attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the 10,000-square-foot, single-story youth center. Construction will begin next week.

The Navy expects to complete the facility in March, officials said.

“Inside, we are basically running out of what one room will be in the new building,” Jones-Borden said.

Children of military personnel will be able to enjoy the Point Mugu Youth Center, equipped with two classrooms, a computer room, a game room, a teen center, a playground and basketball courts.

“With the community growing here, it’s important for families on the base to have a good environment for learning,” said Capt. James Rainwater, commanding officer of the Naval Air Station.

Children use the center for before- and after-school programs, during the summer, and for spring and winter break activities.

The larger facility will accommodate new activities, including ballet classes, dance lessons, kids aerobics classes and yearlong sports programs, Jones-Borden said.

Wesley Rogers, 10, is excited about the game room and 12 computers that will be in the new center.

“It’s better because it has more rooms and more stuff to do,” he said.

With the arrival of about 1,000 Navy personnel tied to the relocation of 16 E-2C radar planes from San Diego, more children will be able to take advantage of the multimillion-dollar center.

The current youth center, which is about 3,100 square feet, is small and overcrowded, officials said.

“The base has expanded quite a bit in the last couple of years,” said Chris Roth, acting executive officer for the Naval Construction Battalion Center. “We need to expand to meet the need.”

Despite base closures and reassignments in recent years, the Navy has made an effort to improve facilities for military families. The Point Mugu base is one of the beneficiaries of a 1994 Pentagon pledge to spend $2.7 billion to modernize housing and renovate base youth centers and recreation programs through the end of the decade.

Roth said the larger, better-equipped center is one of the ways the Navy is trying to make the base more family-friendly.

“The Navy is taking care of the families,” he said. “We are looking out for the quality of life for the troops.”

Mallory Evans, 10, said she can’t wait to play in the new center. “It will be cool,” she said.

Rainwater also said it will be nice to have the additional youth activities because of the base’s remote location from the heart of the city.

“Having things located here makes it easier for families,” he said.