After ten years of plans, the people of the Pike County town Kimper finally have a community center.

"It's a great day. It's a great day," Willie Abshire, who pushed for the center, said.

"I've always had faith it would happen, so I never doubted that," Carol Napier said.

Pike County is largest, in terms of land, county in the state. But many live in distant rural communities. Judge Executive Wayne T. Rutherford says these centers are important because it brings the people together.

"They got these community centers in Lexington, Louisville, and Covington. We just want what they have for our people," Rutherford said.

Officials say the biggest obstacle to building was location.

"There was no property left. No good, flat, private property to build facilities like this in," Abshire said.

A few years ago, the Pike County School District gave the town permission to build on the land behind Kimper Elementary. After just one year of construction, the building was finished.

It will serve as the first senior citizen center in the area. They will be able to socialize, play games, and have food delivered if they can not drive.

"This is for the retired people who have earned the right to do something in their old age. This gives them somewhere to go, and something to do," Rutherford said.

Finishing the community center is just phase one. Next, the people plan to build a gymnasium right behind the center.

"This is the hub of our community, it's our school. This is just an addition to that, and that it'll bring the community closer together," Napier said.

"It is a wonderful community, there are great people here. there are caring people, and there are loving people," Abshire said.

The construction of the building cost about $150,000.