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Boston's Kroc Corps Community Center Dedicated

BOSTON (CBS) - Governor Patrick, Mayor Menino and others were on-hand Saturday for the dedication of an enormous state-of-the-art community center on Dudley Street on the Roxbury-Dorchester line.

The $115 million Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center Is the largest social services community center in the history of Massachusetts. It will serve thousands of local families.

The center's health facility includes an aquatic center, gymnasium and fitness center, basketball and tennis courts and a soccer field.

WBZ-TV's Paul Burton reports

"This is a really great oasis in this neighborhood," Mayor Menino said. "I'm very proud of it."

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports 

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The Kroc Center also features a teaching kitchen, after school programs, computer labs, classrooms, musical instruction space and a visual and performing arts center.

And if that's not enough, the center also provides meals for elders and auditoriums for community meetings.

Dorchester resident Ian Reece hopes to take advantage of the basketball court.

"I've been living here for years and I always wanted to play basketball in a good gym and get out of the cold in Dudley Park," Reece told WBZ-TV's Paul Burton.

The Kroc Corps Community Center is the vision of the late Joan Kroc - widow of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc – and is run by The Salvation Army.

Linda Wendfeldt, Daughter of Ray and Joan Kroc was on-hand for the ceremony.

"The first thing i think about when i walk in this place is about the magnanimous generous spirit of my mother and her vision for all the children and adults who have not the advantages that many of us have," Wendfeldt said.

Mrs. Kroc bequeathed $1.5 billion to the Army to establish and maintain these centers across the nation.

Boston's is the first in the region.

WBZ-TV's Paul Burton contributed to this report

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