Members of the Citrus Heights City Council, city staff and representatives of state and county elected officials, along with members of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce, were on hand to celebrate the April 16 rebranding. Courtesy photo of City of Citrus Heights

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Citrus Heights Mayor Dr. Jayna Karpinski-Costa held the large scissors provided by the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce gently in her hands, waiting for a group photo to be taken, celebrating the renaming of the Citrus Heights Community Center to the Citrus Heights Event Center on April 16.

She had a “little practice” with those scissors, fondly telling guests the evening’s special occasion in the Community Room of the Citrus Heights Event Center brought her “full circle” in her duties as mayor.

Karpinski-Costa as mayor 15 years before on Jan. 23, 2010 officially dedicated the Citrus Heights Community Center as it was then known.

Members of the Citrus Heights City Council, city staff and representatives of state and county elected officials, along with members of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce, were on hand to celebrate the rebranding.

The recent name change to Citrus Heights Events Center from the Citrus Heights Community Center reflects the facility’s multi-purpose role as a regionally recognized venue for various public and private events, according to city communications officer Marisa Brown.

“This branding will continue to support our overall city marketing efforts to enhance utilization and attract more opportunities,” Brown said.

Citrus Heights Mayor Dr. Jayna Karpinski-Costa held the large scissors provided by the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce in celebrating the Citrus Heights Community Center’s renaming to the Citrus Heights Event Center on April 16. Courtesy photo of City of Citrus Heights

The former Citrus Heights Community Center was officially dedicated to city residents on Jan. 23, 2010 by then Mayor Karpinski-Costa, Vice-Mayor Jeannie Bruins and council members Steve Miller, James Shelby and Jeffrey Slowey. Henry Tingle was then city manager.

Ash Feeney, Citrus Heights city manager, acknowledged the rich history of the facility and the promise of its future at the April 16 renaming.

“So many events have been held here in the community room,” Feeney said.

Events have included dozens of crab feed dinners and larger fund-raising dinners held by the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band, Citrus Heights HART and city nonprofit organizations and social groups, just to cite a few, Feeney said.

Rebranding the community center, which first opened in 2010, was one of the city’s goals discussed during a 2024 Strategic Planning Meeting.

Envisioned since the inception of the city in 1997, the 29,000-square-foot, $14-million event center features a reception hall holding nearly 1,000 occupants, a large kitchen and several other smaller rooms. The project was paid for in cash.

“We have City Manager Henry Tingle to thank for that,” said Mayor Karpinski-Costa.

The mayor fondly remembered writing a message with a Sharpie pen and signing one of the unfinished walls of the building with Tingle as the building was under construction, extending her well wishes for its future and the people whom it would serve.

The 29,173-square-foot facility, located across from the Citrus Heights Police Department and south of City Hall, has meeting and entertainment space to accommodate up to 966 people. Inside, its main 11,000-square-foot Community Hall can be separated into three different sections (A, B and C) or rented in full to accommodate large events. Banquet seating in the Community Hall can range from 150 to 700, depending on available resources.

City officials hope that rebranding and enhanced marketing of the former Community Center starting in 2025 will show measurable results both in utilization and increased rental revenue.

Guests were invited to explore the renamed facility’s rental possibilities as they viewed sample spaces in the North, South and East Flex rooms which were configured with sample seating for wedding events, banquets and business meetings.

Guests were invited to explore the rental possibilities of the renamed facility as they viewed sample spaces. Courtesy photo of City of Citrus Heights

The building also features a high-tech audio-visual system, a first-class commercial catering kitchen which can accommodate two separate events simultaneously, and patio and barbecue areas, according to a current city marketing brochure.

Light refreshments and small bites were provided by several of the center’s preferred caterers, including Catered to You, Randy Peters Catering, the Bee’s Café, All Seasons – All Reasons Catering and TLC Catering. The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce and Darkheart Brewing of Citrus Heights also provided refreshments.

The Citrus Heights Events Center also houses the Citrus Heights Senior Center in a separate semi-self-contained area that is set aside for social gatherings and features its own indoor and outdoor fireplace and trellised patio area.

For current facility rental and pricing information of the Citrus Heights Events Center, email [email protected] or [email protected] or call 916-727-5400. Appointments are required to view the facility during normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.