Downtown Washington is bustling with activity as several new – and old – projects are fully in motion.

Of immediate note, is The Field House, a project of the owners of Gibsons Fitness. The Field House, located a few doors down from Gibsons on E. Washington Avenue (Route 57), is an athletic performance center with ample space for soccer and field hockey teams, for example, to practice on. When fully completed The Field House will also feature batting cages. It is an anticipated that specialty coaches will be on board as well, running clinics and other sport specific training activities.

“We are very excited,” said Kevin Hopkins, one of the owners of Gibsons and The Field House. “There isn’t anything like it in our area.”

The Field House is expected to open this month and to draw athletes from throughout the region.

The Field House though, is only one of many projects currently in play in Washington.

Additionally, the former carpet store in the center of the downtown has had the roof replaced and is in the process of a complete interior renovation to get it ready for a children’s educational play park that could open in the next few months.  Further down Washington Avenue, the Stover Building at the corner of Broad Street, is hoping to add new tenants in the next couple of months as it is now feverishly cleaning and renovating the building for retail store fronts, and office space.

‘It’s very exciting,” said John Monteverde, Executive Director of the Washington Business Improvement District. “We are in a position to change the look of the downtown in a hurry as these projects fall into place.”

Meanwhile, further up Belvidere Avenue, WCG CrossFit recently moved to the Borough from its former spot in Washington Township. The new spot is much larger than its last location, making for plenty of room for intense group workouts. In May, WCG CrossFit will celebrate its 2nd anniversary in business.

It is also expected the Ray Rice Project on W. Washington Avenue (across from PNC Bank) will soon break ground, adding more retail space as well as apartments.  Rice has indicated that a national tenant is committed to the corner property that used to have Krauzers.

Another new business is opening up soon on Broad Street next to the AFLAC offices; a custom lipstick and candle maker has secured retail space and is expected to open soon

And more is expected. There have been numerous inquiries about other available spaces in town.

“We’ve got a lot of great things going on right now,” said Mayor Dave Higgins. “We are not there yet, but we are getting there.”

Photo: Kevin Hopkins looks over the “field” at The Field House.