By Lisa Balschunat
Three area families from the Capital District have teamed up to develop plans for the construction of an athletic and community center on Route 146 in Halfmoon.
Since 2016, Chris and Andrea Litchfield, Joyce and Grantley McLeod, and Erin and Tom Huerter, have had visions of creating a sports and community center in their neighborhood. Now, collectively, they have created an $11.7 million project proposal with hopes of it becoming a community hub.
The project also includes the Heurters’ son, Kevin, forward/guard of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. A 2016 Shenendehowa graduate he was a standout at the University of Maryland and a first-round NBA draft pick in 2018.
“This isn’t a big corporate effort,” Andrea said. “It’s three local families investing in a much needed athletic and community center. We want it to be a place all, from newborns to seniors.”
It would be called Impact Athletic Center.
Plans include six hardwood courts, a training room, two fitness studios, a recovery room with cryotherapy and massage chairs, a child care area and café.
Impact Athletic Center is slated to be a 73,000-square-foot indoor facility, with outdoor sand courts for volleyball and strength and conditioning resistance.
“I am stoked about this project,” said Huerter from his Georgia home. “I am in the process of establishing the Huerter Foundation to assist athletes with special needs.”
He intends to run programs and summer camps at Impact Athletic Center, “inclusive for all in the community” not elite athletes. “I want to reach kids and athletes with special needs.”
Huerter was back in his hometown of Clifton Park during the COVID-19 lockdown, lifting weights in his family basement and shooting hoops with his sister in the driveway to keep up on his training.
The genesis of Impact began in 2016. Chris, a longtime local coach and former Siena basketball player, said a practice facility for student athletes, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and club sports has been lacking in the area. “Because our family has always been passionate about sports, it was an easy decision for us to put our combined energies into Impact,” he said.
Chris said the proposed facility, presented under Litchfield Holdings LLC, also will be available to the community for special events, meetings, team building events, trade shows and more.
“We [plan] to offer First Aid, CPR and AED classes, driver education courses, SAT/ACT prep, and classes on the recruiting process,” he added.
The project development team includes Lansing Engineering, Malta; Paone Architecture, Saratoga Springs; and Munter Enterprises, Middle Grove. An anticipated completion date is in late spring 2021.