The club received a $92,000 federal grant to do the renovations.
Members play basketball in the new gymnasium at the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club. Directors now how to convert the former gymnasium into several rooms.CHICOPEE — The former gymnasium at the Boys and Girls Club will get a make-over this fall thanks to federal Community Development Block Grant money.
The club will receive $92,000 from the federal grants program given to communities to improve low-income neighborhoods and help fund anti-poverty programs.
The money is being used to turn the club’s former gymnasium into more user-friendly space, Jason M. Reed, the resource development director for the club, said.
In 2007 the club on 580 Meadow St. built an 11,000-square-foot addition that included a full-size gymnasium, a fitness room, locker rooms, additional rest rooms and a new kitchen at the cost of about $2 million. Nearly all the costs were covered through a fund-raising campaign.
Now the former gymnasium is being used as a game room, but the space is not ideal and there is plenty of wasted room, Reed said.
“It is going to make a big space more user-friendly. The ceilings are high and it is kind of dark,” he said.
The renovations will lower the ceilings, replace the lighting, drop down the sprinklers and heating and air conditioning system and the large room will be divided into different spaces, Reed said.
A large room will stay for the game room, two activity rooms will be added and two smaller meeting rooms will be created, he said.
Nationally the Boys and Girls Clubs offer a number of student-run clubs which do a lot of community service and promote leadership. The Chicopee club has the programs, but often the groups have a hard time finding a quiet space to meet, Reed said.
“The Boys and Girls Clubs of America are gearing toward academic success, character and leadership and promoting healthy lifestyles,” Reed said. “We will be able to start more of these things if we can get out of the hustle and bustle of the main club.”
The renovations will also make the area more energy efficient because the area above the drop ceiling will be insulated and better lighting will be added, he said.
The club officials have been working with the city’s Community Development office for a number of years and submitted the grant request as part of the annual application process, said Carl Dietz, director of community development.
“It is a great organization and we have done a number of projects with them,” he said.
Renovations are expected to begin in late September or October, Reed said.