It was a big day for Erie Bishop Dwane Brock's Eagle's Nest.


The East-Erie school now has a brand-new, 3.4 million dollar athletic center.


The Eagle's Nest school opened in 2019, they now have about 130 students in grades 5 through 8. Now those kids, and so many others are gonna have a chance to play basketball, volleyball, pickleball, wrestling, and even the jump rope game double dutch. It's just the latest addition to a spot that's really transformed this East-Erie neighborhood.


A Friday morning ribbon cutting, marking the end of a multi-year effort to offer up a special place for kids to play and learn on this side of the city.\
The event, crowded with many of the people who helped make this 3.4 million dollar space, a reality.


According to Bishop Dwane Brock, "Thank you for everybody from Erie Insurance. Of course. They've been great. UPMC Hospital. So many, the community foundation, the architectural firms. So many people came together to make this thing happen, so we're excited."


Eagle's Nest leader Bishop Dwane Brock, promising a safe place for young athletes to play, compete, and grow. Plans call for this 10-thousand square foot facility to host a variety of sports. It also calls for teaching lessons beyond the game.

 "Get to have a lot of fun activities, and they get to learn how to do different things like build sportsmanship", said Jakari Dawson.


Four years of fundraising, planning and construction now complete. Friday's ribbon cutting serves as both a finishing line, and a starting point.  "This is a great point of demarcation. It's a very, you know, kind of day for a celebration because the asset is here. Now, it's it's utilizing the asset to change people's lives", said Tim Necastro, the C.E.O. of Erie Insurance.


Brock said this new athletic center is a first for this part of the city and something he feels is long overdue. Now, it's onto the next step of changing lives, one game at a time.


"This has never happened before on the East side. To this magnitude, we want to take our kids off the street. Take guns out of the hands of young men and bring them in here to teach them discipline. Teach them how to work together, how to love one another and respect authority. We're going to do it right here at eagle's nest", said Bishop Brock.


This place is more than just this a wooden floor, there are new locker rooms, a fitness center, and a meeting space. They're set to offer kids training, as well as that chance to compete.