Earlier this year, an anonymous benefactor gifted the Town of Sweden with $100,000 to be used to develop an indoor recreational facility. Those funds were invested, awaiting the time. Sweden would be prepared to buy, build or lease a recreational facility.

Now, a second anonymous donor has come forward with a proposal to purchase the Golden Heights facility, renovate it, and either donate or grant a lease to the town for the facility.

The second donor, who is a legal client of Supervisor Buddy Lester, is a former Brockport resident who enjoyed the local recreational program as a youth. The donor has gifted other communities in the United States with recreational facilities, according to Lester. The anonymous benefactor no longer lives in New York and does not have any business ties with the Town of Sweden, Lester said. Brockport attorney Mark Klafehn is representing the benefactor for the transaction.

The Golden Heights church facility was foreclosed on three years ago. Several months ago, the donor suggested purchasing the 30,000 square feet building for use as a town recreational facility.

Sweden was already involved in a multi-municipality search for a recreational facility. Sweden, Brockport, Clarkson and Hamlin had joined forces and created a committee to look into the feasibility of developing a joint facility.

The logical place for a joint recreation center would be in Clarkson – the center point of the four municipalities. Lester appeared before the committee in August and told them about the possibility of the Golden Heights donation and invited the other municipalities to consider whether they would be interested in participating, despite the more southerly geographic location. That intermunicipal committee continues to meet.

Right now, no deal has been struck between the donor and the Town of Sweden, Lester said. In fact, the donor has yet to actually purchase the property, although plans have been drawn for roof replacement and other repairs and let out to bid. The donor has formed a company, NBI, LLC to handle the transaction.

"If this corporation does actually go through with the purchase," Lester said, "and makes the repairs and then asks if we want it, then we’ll have to make a decision."

Town board members have toured the facility. Members of the intermunicipal committee were going to be taking a tour late last week. "They’ll explore the feasibility of the recreational use of the building," Lester said.

The gymnasium could be used to run two basketball games or two volleyball games at a time, according to Lester. Other possibilities include indoor soccer, wrestling and other adult fitness activities. There are also classrooms that could be used for adult education.

Brockport, Sweden and Clarkson run a joint recreation commission which provides activities for children and adults. Lester said finding space for the programs is often difficult. School facilities are used as much as possible, but Lester said that understandably school programs come first, leaving not much prime time or space for community programs. The construction of new playing fields at the Redman Road park will help the outdoor space crunch, and the Golden Heights facility could be the answer to the indoor space problem, he said.

"It would be presumptuous to say it’s a done deal," Lester said. "What we have is a generous individual with fond memories of our community and an interest in promoting recreation. If things work out, I’d say our community is very fortunate."