HARPERSVILLE – Residents of Harpersville and surrounding communities attended a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at the Harpersville Community Center on Thursday, Feb. 15.

The mayors of neighboring Chelsea, Vincent and Westover were among the visitors recognized by Harpersville Mayor Don Greene while a slideshow of images showing before and after pictures of the facility’s remodel played on wall-mounted televisions.

“The people we’re proudest of are the citizens here in Harpersville,” Greene said. “They’re the ones who make the town.”

Participants of the Harpersville Senior Center, which is housed at the new facility, were mostly absent because of a planned trip the same day but were recognized by Greene.

After hearing from Greene and posing for a ceremonial ribbon cutting, guests were treated to cake and other refreshments.

The first event held at the Community Center was Coffee with the Mayor in October 2018, and then residents had a chance for a sneak peek during Harpersville Day the next month.

Harpersville in 2017 purchased a 14,000-square-foot strip mall located across Alabama 25 from Town Hall for $480,000.

Space in the shopping center that formerly housed a pharmacy was made the new home of the Harpersville Library, which celebrated its grand opening in June 2018.

A larger former sports practice space and other stores are being renovated to serve as a Community Center, Senior Center and storm shelter.

The Community Center will be available for residents to rent for birthday parties, weddings, family reunions and other events, as well as being used for town functions like Harpersville Day.

The center could possibly accommodate as many as 300 people.

The Senior Center provides a new home for a group organized by the Middle Alabama Area Agency on Aging that formerly met at a church in Vincent.

The seniors enjoy meals at the new center as well as other activities, including using an exercise room.

A kitchen and restroom facilities serve both the Community Center and Senior Center.

A storm shelter that can hold about 150 people was also installed in the building, as was some office space that could be used to accommodate county officials.

“It’s going to be something that is good for the community,” Greene said.