CAPE MAY — Since the Cape May Community Center opened last May, city residents and their neighbors have a new space to build friendships, keep fit and explore new opportunities.
In 2024, the Cape May County Library upgraded to a larger location at the historic Franklin Street School, leaving the building on Ocean Street vacant.
City officials conducted a survey of residents to gain input on what they would like to see in the building, and the majority asked for a community center.
The center opened last year and provided the community with more space to hold programs and events.
“We had other locations that were great, and we were grateful for them, but we were renting space in order to accommodate our programs,” Cape May Director of Civic Affairs, Recreation, Tourism and Marketing Kacie Rattigan said. “I was extremely happy that they decided to go with the community center, so we had a home base.”
The center offers a space for people to socialize or join the offered programs and activities. Popular weekly programs include group fitness classes and open game time.
The fitness classes are held year-round for $10 per class and provide a variety of workout styles.
Games such as mahjong and bunco are hosted daily at the center.
“As far as new things, the intention of our calendar is to set aside a time for people to play cards and games,” Rattigan said. “That is typically daily at 1 p.m. All different games like mahjong, chess and Scrabble on Saturdays.”
With the additional space, Rattigan explained they’ve been able to build on previous successful programs such as We Play for mothers and infants. The program is now two hours a day, three days a week. Preregistration is required for the session.
City Recreation Director David Scheffler spoke on the different ways the community has benefited from the new center.
“Over the last 10 months, we got a lot of people who can get together in one spot as a community,” Scheffler said. “Now, people can walk to this location, they’re meeting each other, and neighborhoods are spending more time together. It’s more convenient, and now people have this little spot right in town.”
Rattigan and Scheffler have seen a strong fellowship forming among those who spend time at the center.
“We have a group of ladies that come every Wednesday who play mahjong, and it’s their time to socialize with one another,” Rattigan said. “When I think of fellowship, I think of being a service to each other and building relationships that they didn’t have prior.”
Along with the usual weekly programs, the Civic Affairs, Recreation, Tourism and Marketing Department is organizing special events for the many anniversaries occurring in 2026.
One project coming to fruition this year is the Chatting Bench outside the center. After a resident suggested the idea, a bench was installed with the intention that people sitting there would be looking for conversation.
While the United States is celebrating its 250th birthday, Cape May is honoring 175 years as a city and 50 years since gaining National Historic Landmark status.
“It was a goal for so long to just get the community center,” Rattigan said. “I’m just so ecstatic that we have it. The ultimate goal is to incorporate as much to the public as possible.”
Visit capemaycity.com to view the center’s calendar with all of the programs and events being offered.
By JULIA DIGERONIMO/For the Star and Wave
