“It’s in an old building, they’ve only got 800 square feet, and they need more, and that’s why we’re so excited about this new building,” said Greg Awtry, president of the Friends of Hubbard Lake Center. “A third of it’s going to be the library.”

Fundraising has been progressing for many years, and the Hubbard Lake Community Association would like to update the community on plans for the new facility.

“We’ve been doing it for a while, but I’d say we’ve gotten really serious about it in the past 10 years,” Julie Mathewson, Hubbard Lake Community Association president, said about fundraising.

The new building will sit back from the road, with a large parking lot in place of the current building.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Here is the current Hubbard Lake Community Center. The new center is planned to be built on the same lot, back from the road, and the old building will be torn down to make way for a large parking lot.

The Hubbard Lake Fire Department began in 1946, and the original fire hall was built shortly thereafter at 1561 Hubert Road, where the community center is located today.

“The Hubbard Lake Community Association, Inc. was formed in 1953, to work cooperatively with the Hubbard Lake Fire Department,” Mathewson said. “In the early days, we were primarily a fundraising arm for the fire department.”

In 2006, Hubbard Lake Community Association started a building fund at the Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan, where tax-deductible donations can be made toward a new community center/library.

“When you look at our building, it’s antiquated,” Mathewson said. “This is the old fire hall. Fire trucks were parked on this side,” she said, motioning to the west. “It’s just not efficient energy-wise, or even electrical, it’s just not up-to-date.”

Friends of the Hubbard Lake Center, Inc. was incorporated on April 16, 2020 and received its nonprofit 501(c)(3) status in July 2021, Mathewson stated.

Courtesy Photo The historical photo above shows the original community center, which was attached to the fire hall in the late 1940s.

“Things are really starting to throttle up, here, especially in the last year,” she added.

“Our goal is $1 million,” Awtry said. “That’s what the early estimates are … as far as construction costs, and right now we are at $472,000.”

He said this past year has been great for fundraising. The annual golf tournament raised $8,000. On Giving Tuesday, they raised a little over $13,000.

“It’s coming from all directions as we get closer and closer to this,” Awtry said, adding that they have applied for quite a few grants.

They are amazed with the community’s generosity, including those from downstate who summer here.

Here is the proposed architect's rendering of the new Hubbard Lake Community Center.

They have been working with an architect on preliminary renderings. Once funding is procured, they will get mechanical drawings and be able to ask for construction bids on the project.

Currently, the community center is used primarily for meetings, some classes, and it can be rented out for parties or events.

The new 6,500-square-foot facility will also feature space that can be used for exercise classes and more, Mathewson added.

She said the current 2,600-square-foot center suffered water damage last year, so it set them back for many months, but it has been cleaned up and is usable at this time. It has been freshened up with new paint and flooring.

“It looks inviting now,” she added. “We know we still need to be in a new building, but this is sufficing … and we thought it was important to keep this building going until we can build the new one.”

For more information and updates, visit Hubbard Lake Community Association/Friends of the Hubbard Lake Center on Facebook.

Their main fundraising season is Memorial Day through Labor Day. They are hoping for new memberships and they have bracelets for sale at various locations.

With the generosity of Hickory Dickory Docks, Hubbard Lake Community Association is offering a chance to win a new 50-foot aluminum Sure-Step dock with a 10-foot by 12 -foot platform, stairs and bench, valued at $12,614.

Tickets are just $10 each or 4 for $20. The drawing will be at noon on Saturday, July 9. Second prize is $250, and third prize is $100. You need not be present to win.

Tickets are available from board members, at the Hubbard Lake Farmers Market on May 28, South Shore Party Store, Hubbard Lake General Store, and Abram Realty.

To donate, make checks out to Friends of the Hubbard Lake Center, and mail them to P.O. Box 55, Hubbard Lake, MI 49747. Call 989-464-3936 for more information.

The association meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of the month.

“This will be a great asset to the Hubbard Lake community,” Awtry added about the new community center.