The new Deep Creek Community Center at Mable C. Smith Park was standing room only on Friday as community members and current and former local elected officials gathered to celebrate its opening.
The 2,872-square-foot facility features a multi-purpose room, a full kitchen, restrooms and storage space. It will be available for community events and for residents to rent by Aug. 1, according to the city.
The center is a much-needed addition to east Fayetteville, speakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony said. Speakers emphasized the significance of the community center for east Fayetteville, which they said is often “forgotten,” as the vast majority of the city’s land area and population are located west of the Cape Fear River.
“When I first ran for office, when I grew up, actually, I always heard about the east side being the forgotten-about side of town,” said Malik Davis, who represents the community with the District 2 seat on the Fayetteville City Council. “And so this is just one testament of what the city is going to try to do to bring [an end to] that saying that the east side has been forgotten about.”
Construction on the community center, located at the Mable C. Smith Park off of Deep Creek Road, began in 2023. However, progress on the project was delayed when the city’s contractor walked away from it unfinished in spring 2024, along with two other projects at Mazarick Park: a tennis center building and new tennis courts. On June 23, the city was awarded a $236,142 judgment in a lawsuit against the contractor.
The city hired a local contractor in February to finish the Deep Creek Community Center for $595,000.
“As many of you know, we ran into a small issue that we collectively had to overcome to get this wonderful building completed,” Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen said at the start of the event. “And we are so glad that we did.”
According to the city, the unfinished Mazarick Park Tennis Center, abandoned by the same contractor, is expected to be completed in the fall.
“There have been promises made to communities across the city that are today being fulfilled,” Mayor Mitch Colvin said.
Much of Friday’s ribbon cutting ceremony focused on the living legacy of community activist and former Fayetteville City Council member Mable Smith, after whom the park surrounding the community center is named. Smith served three terms on the Fayetteville City Council during the late 1990s to early 2000s. The 91-year-old attended the ceremony and spoke to the crowd there, many of whom shared anecdotes about her guidance, wisdom, honesty and steadfast support for the east Fayetteville community over the past several decades.
Tara Whitfield, the community watch leader for the Deep Creek Road neighborhood, presented Smith with an award for her years of service to the community.
“We just want to thank God for her today where we can honor her,” Whitfield said. “As they say, give a person their flowers while they are here. Don’t wait until they’re gone to put all the flowers on their grave.”
Kirk deViere, chair of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, said he has known Smith for many years and appreciated her friendship and support for the Deep Creek Road community. DeViere previously represented the community when he was on the Fayetteville City Council.
“Your fingerprints are everywhere,” deViere said.
Delivering the final speech of the ceremony, Smith addressed the crowd, speaking in a Southern drawl. She described the community center’s completion as a culmination of her life’s work over the past 50 years advocating on behalf of the Deep Creek Road community. The audience erupted in applause throughout her address.
“Some of you might not believe it, but some of you that are sitting in this room remember when this task was put upon me,” Smith said. “I asked God to give me something that I could do to be of help to our community. We were the forgotten children east of the river. They knew nothing about it — everything was on the other side. And today, we stand here together as citizens of the United States of America on Deep Creek Road.”
Government accountability reporter Evey Weisblat can be reached at eweisblat@cityviewnc.com or 216-527-3608.
Did you find this story useful or interesting? It was made possible by donations from readers like you to the News Foundation of Greater Fayetteville, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to an informed democracy in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation so CityView can bring you more news and information like this.
