The Stanislaus Regional Housing Authority hosted a tour and the official ribbon cutting of its brand new McRitchie Community Center in downtown Riverbank last week.

The celebratory event was staged on Tuesday, April 29, at the new facility, located at 6600 Third St., corner of Third and Stanislaus.

It started with a program in the parking lot at the rear of the building, conducted by Authority Executive Director Jim Kruse. There, he explained the process of how the facility came to be.

Riverbank Mayor Rachel Hernandez read from a City Certificate of Appreciation describing the inspiration for the naming of the facility.

“Scott McRitchie was an example of this over decades of being active in city projects and groups, affectionately being dubbed ‘the face of the neighborhood’,” she read. “Always having a kind smile and memorable sense of humor, all to make our city better.”

McRitchie passed away in November of 2018 at the age of 79, following a long battle with cancer.

“His tireless involvement in bettering the community day in and day out will be exemplified in this center that our residents, partner organizations, and community overall will enjoy,” Mayor Hernandez continued. “The City of Riverbank is proud to welcome the McRitchie Community Center.”

His widow Marilyn McRitchie was in attendance and described for the crowd how Scott became inspired to become involved after they moved to Riverbank in 1988.

After the brief program, the event moved around to the front of the building, where a ribbon cutting was held.

That involved city council members, Housing Authority officials, the mayor, and Marilyn McRitchie and her family.

It is noted that the center is located within a few blocks of the Housing Authority’s Riverbank facilities, which are both east and west of it.