News Flash

June 6, 2022 - Shortages of construction materials and supply-chain delays have caused the opening of the Mary W. Jackson Neighborhood Center in Olde Hampton to be postponed. The center, named for one of the "hidden figures" who did mathematic computations at the NASA Langley Research Center, was originally scheduled to open this weekend.

Located at at 231 Lincoln St., the neighborhood center features a gym, locker rooms, a fitness area, kitchen, small meeting rooms, and a larger multipurpose room. Outdoors, the park will contain a fenced basketball court, picnic area with shade structures, an outdoor fireplace and gathering area, and a multi-purpose field for events and large-scale, outdoor activities and sports based on programming needs.  

The center is named in honor of Mary W. Jackson, who became NASA’s first black female engineer and was one of the "hidden figures" who did mathematic computations at the NASA Langley Research Center. She was a resident and active member of the Olde Hampton community. Displays in the center will highlight some of her many contributions. 

Unlike a full-scale community center operated by the city’s Parks and Rec staff, the operations of neighborhood centers are overseen by an advisory committee made up of neighborhood stakeholders and city facilitators. Although there is a membership fee of $15 per year, it is waived for active participants who live within two miles of the center.

Shortages and shipping delays that emerged in the wake of the Covid-19 epidemic have caused problems across the country. Other city construction projects have been affected as well. Due to the uncertainty of these issues, a new opening date has not been set.