By Carmen Rodgers
Elmore Autauga News
The Pine Level Community Center, located at 116 County Road 40 E, is a central gathering place for local residents. From community celebrations to town meetings, the center continues to serve as a vital hub for civic and cultural events in Pine Level.
The building, which dates back to 1929 and once served as an elementary school, is in need of essential repairs, most notably a new roof.
“There is a lot of history in the building,” said board member Earl Irvine. “There are people who have attended proms there, held weddings, some people even went to school there.”
With a rich history behind it, the building is reaching a critical point where repairs are necessary to prevent further deterioration.
“There’s a lot of deep-rooted history in that building itself,” Irvine continued. “The building is a place where it’s not worth tearing down. The history and the memories that people have there make it beneficial.”
To address the estimated $50,000 cost, the center’s board of directors have launched a GoFundMe campaign. The fundraising effort is a call to action for the community and supporters beyond to help preserve the building for future use.
“If 1,000 people gave $50, we’d meet our goal,” Irvine said. “This center has always been here for the community. Now, we’re asking the community to be there for it.”
“Use this resource to help people in the community do what’s on their heart to do. be it bingo, outdoor movie nights , BBQ competition, concerts , baby showers , birthday parties , weddings just whatever a person wants to do we want to help them discover that and offer a place for the community to feel supported and unified together,” he continued.
The center has been part of several key milestones in Pine Level’s recent history. It hosted the town’s first Christmas Tree Lighting in December 2024, complete with a student choir of more than 100 and a holiday parade. In December 2023, it also served as the venue for the swearing-in of Pine Level’s first-ever mayor and town council after the community voted to incorporate in September 2023.
“It’s invaluable to the community itself. You can’t put a price on having a community center and what it offers the community. It’s a place where people can get together and connect. You need that for a community to grow,” he said.
As Pine Level continues to grow and shape its identity as a newly established town, preserving community spaces like the center is more important than ever.
If you would like to donate to the GoFundMe, visit
https://www.gofundme.com/f/raise-the-roof-for-the-pine-level-community-center
