By DANIEL JOHNSON

There has been much talk about fundraising for the Village Green Community Center. While that is an important subject which will determine when we break ground on the new building, the more important subject is what will go on in the community center once it is built.

So let me take you on a virtual tour.

When you arrive at the building and walk up to the main entrance, you will be struck by the floor-to-ceiling windows which allow natural light to flood the lobby. The large lobby area will offer many options for seating to talk with a friend or read a book while free Wi-Fi will keep you connected.

Once you are inside the lobby, if you turn right you will come to the entrance of the long-awaited new Kingston branch of the Kitsap Regional Library. With five times more space than its current location, the library will offer an expanded collection of books and periodicals, computers for public use, separate children’s and teen areas, and dedicated space for people to gather. The core programs such as youth activities, book discussions, and author and writing events will continue.

Back in the lobby, you will walk past the reception desk with a monitor showing what’s happening in the center. Continuing past the reception desk, you will come to the entrance of the senior center. There you will find a large well-lighted room with windows looking out on the patio, park and bay beyond. The space will provide a home for the Super Seniors program as well as offering games, dancing, art, health and fitness classes, and intergenerational programs. Adjoining the Senior Center room is a large commercial kitchen that will be used to prepare food for seniors as well as for events and use as a teaching kitchen for cooking classes for all ages.

When you go back out into the lobby and turn left you walk down a corridor that provides access to four meeting rooms (the three large rooms are divided by operable walls) allowing the ability to create one large meeting space for events, meetings and gatherings. The meeting rooms will be available for rental.

At the end of the corridor, you will find the Boys & Girls Club. For security, kids will swipe their membership cards to gain access. The space will include a traditional games room with pool, ping pong and foosball. There will also be an art room and dedicated space for teens. The club will share the community computer lab and multi-purpose room; these spaces will be available to the public during non-club hours.

The club will offer a range of after-school programs, including homework help, leadership clubs, games, classes, athletics and a daily healthy snack. A summer day camp program is also being planned.

With this innovative design bringing multiple community resources under one roof, there is little question it will deliver on the Village Green Foundation’s mission to build a place that connects and strengthens community.

— Daniel Johnson is the executive director of the Village Green Foundation.