Brookhaven opens new recreation building

Brookhaven Town officials will open a new parks and recreation administration building Thursday in Centereach.

The long-awaited opening comes nearly two years after ground was broken for the Hawkins Road building, which replaces a more than 50-year-old former chicken coop on Old Town Road.

The 12,000-square-foot building cost $4.9 million -- $400,000 of which was paid for with federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, town officials said.

The building features energy-efficient light fixtures, motion-sensing light switches and rot-resistant concrete shingle exterior siding.

Town officials said it was designed with the aim of qualifying for a Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design “silver certification.”

Supervisor Mark Lesko and Parks Commissioner Ed Morris will host a ribbon-cutting and tour of the facility Thursday at 12:30 p.m.