A church in Federal Heights is expanding its reach to help meet a growing demand for services.
Thrive Church, at West 92nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard, has plans to open a new church in Thornton, in addition to a new community recreation center and a gymnasium in Federal Heights.
A nonprofit affiliated with Thrive recently submitted plans to acquire a vacant, gutted-out building at 2599 W. 90th Ave., which will be transformed into a recreation center for the community, said Dave Blanchard, city manager for Federal Heights.
The city does not operate a recreation center because it is part of the Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District, Blanchard said. Among other things, the district owns and operates the city’s largest recreation attraction, Water World.
The new community center will be about 7,000 square feet and will include a computer lab, a small cafe, classrooms and a dance studio, said Debbie Porter, executive director of the nonprofit Federal Heights Community Center.
It will take about six months to renovate, she said. The services will be offered free or at minimal cost to members of the community, Porter said.
“Federal Heights is predominantly a low-income area,” she said. “Most of the kids here can’t afford to go to Hyland Hills. . . . We can offer it for free because we have the manpower.”
Formerly known as New Life Worship Center, the Christian church has grown since opening in Federal Heights more than a decade ago, Porter said.
An estimated 1,300 people attend weekly services, she said. The church is opening a new facility, Thrive Church North, this October at 12551 N. Holly St. in Thornton.
“We love the community and we care about the community,” Porter said. “We want to help get kids off the streets and make a positive difference in the city.”
