Mark the calendar and plan to attend a special Grand Opening Ceremony this Saturday, Aug. 13 at 3 p.m., for the new Escalon Youth Center. An Open House at the location will follow from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The new Youth Center, on Escalon Avenue near the corner of Escalon and Yosemite at the site of the former Escalon Motel, is a project of the Trinity Church Assembly of God.

Last minute work at the location this weekend included the putting in of the lawn outside the building and final touch ups inside. The facility is designed to offer local youths a place to go for fun and relaxation, a quiet place to do homework, enjoy snacks and games and it will also be used as the site for Trinity’s weekly youth group meetings.

Dana Corbin of Trinity Church said it took about one year from starting to demolish the old motel to passing the final inspection to allow for the opening. One portion of the old motel – a corner building that fronts toward Escalon Avenue – remains and is being used as living quarters by Tim O’Neill, who is a staff member for Trinity and will oversee day-to-day operations at the Youth Center.

The new center is about 1,900 square feet and features a main open room that includes a pool table, snack bar area, study area, TVs mounted on the wall for use with video games, and more. Youth group meetings for the church are scheduled on Tuesday nights and the center itself will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for area youths (primarily for ages 12 to 17) Tuesday through Saturday.

All in the community are encouraged to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony and stay for the open house on Saturday afternoon.

Formal address of the new Escalon Youth Center is 1328 Escalon Ave., and there is no charge for the programs they will be offering, though donations are appreciated.