Boys & Girls Club Of Greenwich Seeks Use Of Arch Street Teen Center

GREENWICH, CT — The Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich (BGCG) is hoping for a little help from a nearby neighbor as the club gets ready to embark on major renovations to its facility at 4 Horseneck Lane.

On Thursday, BGCG CEO Cristina Vittoria went before the Greenwich Board of Selectmen to ask for approval to use the Arch Street Teen Center for the club's after-school program while renovations are ongoing.

"[We're] hoping to start our renovation in September. As part of our renovation of our building, it is vitally important that we don't have a lapse in our services during that time," Vittoria explained.

The selectmen did not take any action on the request since this was a "first read." The board will allow time for pubic feedback and revisit the item in two weeks during the next scheduled selectmen meeting.

The club would host a modified after-school program at the Teen Center from approximately the end of August 2023 through January 2025, Monday through Fridays during the school year, and during non-school days like vacation days, Vittoria said.

Members would arrive by bus to the Teen Center from school and participate in homework help, arts and crafts and outdoor sports, as the weather permits, until 6 p.m. Parents would then pick up their children at the end of the day.

Beginning in summer 2024, the BGCG would operate its Clubhouse Camp out of the Teen Center.

The BGCG would not hold any activities at the Teen Center while the center is having any of its events, or during predetermined dates agreed upon in advance.

"We plan to serve approximately 100 to 150 members, ages 6-18, for our after-school program and some enrichment programs," added Vittoria, who stressed that the affordable program is critical for the community.

Camillo acknowledged the Teen Center and their willingness in being "a great partner" to the town and other organizations who have requested to use their space over the past few years.

"I'm thrilled for the Boys & Girls Club," added Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan. "This sounds like a great plan."

Renovation plans were given the green light by the town's planning & zoning commission and architectural review committee within the past four months. The project is currently out to bid, according to Laura Dianis, director of external communications for the club.

The project is three-fold. The club will add more athletic space, including a regulation-sized basketball gym; new academic space; and improve internal systems such as plumbing, electrical, and HVAC equipment to create a more sustainable, green environment, Dianis said.

The project cost is not yet known, but it will be shared with the community later on in the process. Construction is expected to last a little less than two years.