Lawrence + Memorial Hospital Named Legacy Partner for New London Community Recreation Center

New London, CT (Aug. 26, 2025) – Today, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital (L+M) announced a multi-year commitment to the City of New London’s Community Recreation Center as a Legacy partner.

The agreement between the hospital and the city was signed this week and will provide L+M with exclusive naming rights to the facility’s second floor. The area will be branded as the Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, Yale New Haven Health, Health and Wellness Corridor. The Fitness Center and the multipurpose community and education rooms will also be named for the hospital. The city will benefit from a donation from the hospital to be paid out over the next five years.

“This partnership aligns with the mission and values of the hospital and for our desire to have a long-term impact in our community,” said Rich Lisitano, president, L+M Hospital. “This partnership is tied to our philosophy of giving back to the community because we are the community. We understand that our mission extends beyond caring for people when they are sick, and only by working together can we continue to improve the lives of our neighbors, friends and families.

“By investing in the New London Community Recreation Center, we’re helping to create a space where wellness, education and connection thrive. The Health and Wellness Corridor will serve as a hub for residents of all ages to engage in healthy living, and we’re proud to stand alongside the City of New London in this meaningful initiative,” Lisitano said.

“The New London Community Recreation Center is more than just a building – it’s a promise to our community – and the city is grateful for the support of Legacy Partners like Lawrence + Memorial Hospital who are committed to creating a space where wellness, connection, and opportunity come together for every resident,” said Mayor Michael Passaro. “This facility represents a symbol of trust - trust in our youth, in our shared future, and in the institutions that believe in the strength and potential of this community.”

As a Legacy Partner, L+M will also have access to facilities at the recreation center to bring a wide range of classes, support groups and events to heart of the community, many of which currently occur in the hospital, including:

• Health & Emergency Preparedness: Stop the Bleed, trauma, CPR trainings and health screenings
• Maternal & Family Health: Maternity tours, breastfeeding support groups, lactation consultations
• Mental and Community Wellness: Mental health awareness, wellness seminars, farmers markets, American Heart Association collaborations
• Career & Pipeline Development: Job fairs, scholarship events
• Hosting the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Foundation business meeting at the center. L+M sponsors several student scholarships.

The 57,000-square-foot recreation center at Fort Trumbull includes an eight-lane swimming pool, a two-court gym and other amenities.

Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, a member of Yale New Haven Health, is a non-profit, 308-bed general and acute care hospital providing patient care to medical, surgical, pediatric, psychiatric and obstetrical patients in southeastern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island since 1912. Lawrence + Memorial offers cardiac acute, step-down and rehabilitation programs and is the only eastern Connecticut hospital that performs emergency and elective angioplasty. www.lmhospital.org