The HUB, a new quality-of-life center, located at 7845 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE, held its grand opening Saturday.

Kevin Hendricks/Observer

The HUB features Rio Rancho’s third public library and a recreation center featuring two indoor pickleball courts. It spans 11,020 square feet.

Dozens attended the festivities Saturday, including Mayor Gregg Hull, City Councilor Bob Tyler and County Commissioner Dave Heil.

“As a former resident of the area, I know that northern Rio Rancho has been lacking in public recreation facilities,” Hull said. “When we were raising our kids here, we would drive them to the Esther Bone library, so I am excited for the residents to get to enjoy a library near them.”

The library is fully open, and both pickleball courts are available. The HUB had a soft opening in May and has been well received by the community.

“We were kind of 90% done. We didn’t want to keep holding back from offering the services, and so far it’s been a great turnout,” Director of Library and Information Services for the city of Rio Rancho Jason Shoup said. “We’ve had close to 120 people a day. I think we’ve made 300 new library cards here signing people up. The pickleball courts have been in use pretty much non-stop. People are finding it, they’re loving it and we’re hoping to really make a big show today and make sure everyone knows we’re here.”

The library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and offers books, eBooks, movies, author events, Wi-Fi connected public computers, checkout kits, printing, a public meeting room and more.

The recreation center is open Monday through Saturday with varying hours. It offers pickleball, dance, arts and crafts classes, special events and programs for all ages. The amenities at The Hub are free.

“This is several years in the making,” Shoup said.  “This is the first city facility on this end of town in this community and we are so excited to open it up. We’re super excited. It’s been a lot of work and it’s really great. It’s an awesome resource.”

The Hub’s grand opening is just one of the new developments in Enchanted Hills, with new businesses popping up in the plaza and construction on the shipping container project known as “The Block” underway.