AUBURN, Maine — The new Police Activities League building in Auburn offers many new features and amenities, but it gained a new one Friday: the laughter of children.

Lawmakers, city officials and the public gathered at 24 Chestnut St. to cut the ribbon on the new building dedicated to fostering a better environment for Auburn youth after school and during the summer.

Five times larger than its predecessor, the new Auburn PAL Center did what many projects don’t. It come in under budget.

Rita Beaudry, the secretary of the PAL Center Board, said the building was originally going to be two stories tall.

However, as construction costs ballooned in the wake of the pandemic, the city had to reassess and in total, the new building cost $9.5 million.

In attendance Friday was Sen. Susan Collins

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