WATERLOO - The long wait is nearly over.

In December, the public will step inside to play, explore and experience the innovative exhibits and activities at the new Phelps Youth Pavilion.

Major construction is complete, and installation of experiential galleries and the finishing touches are under way at the Pavilion, an expansion of the Waterloo Center for the Arts.

The project has taken the community's dedication, hard work and generosity, says Cammie Scully, WCA executive director. "It feels exciting, it feels like a long-awaited dream that is finally coming true."

She credits dozens of volunteers for contributing their time to raise funds, and praises the more than 500 donors - municipal, state and federal governments, foundations, corporations, gaming funds, individuals and school children who supported the project.

Plans for the Phelps Youth Pavilion grew out of a desire to bring the award-winning Junior Art gallery out of the basement and into a larger gallery space, says Scully.

The Junior Art Gallery was established 35 years ago. More than 15,000 Cedar Valley schoolchildren and adults visit the gallery annually. Numerous initiatives have been made to move the nationally acclaimed gallery out of the basement. Early fundraising efforts failed but were revived in 1992 with a generous bequest from Florence Kies. Those efforts were put on hold when fundraising began for Young Arena. The campaign was reinvigorated in conjunction with development of the Riverfront Renaissance project adjacent to the Youth Pavilion.

No longer a blank canvas, the "expansion design has evolved over the years," says Scully.

" As we've gone along, we've filled in what was missing from the original plans and identified new needs for the center," she explains.

The new Junior Art Gallery will be 5,680 square feet, nearly double in size. The state-of-the-art Pavilion's remaining space will include a colorful palette of hands-on educational, experiential and visual activities for children and young adults, as well as other features, including a digital art studio, ceramics art studio, two-story gift shop, cafe and dedicated storage space.

An invitation-only grand opening dedication is planned from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 6 , featuring desserts, music by the Chris Merz Quartet, McKinstry student choir and a recognition ceremony and ribbon cutting.