More space in short order at Boys & Girls Club of Georgetown

More space in short order at Boys & Girls Club of Georgetown

By Suzanne Haberman Friday, 30 April 2010

GEORGETOWN — Children at the Boys & Girls Club of Georgetown will have twice the space for activities and programs as fast-tracked construction to build an addition begins May 3 and ends May 7.

The Williamson County Community Block Development Grant Program awarded $232,000 for the project last year. After the lengthy bidding and design process, organizers decided to accelerate construction so that the addition could be ready for the club’s busy season.

“We wanted to get this done by summer,” said Daniel Anstee, director of the Boys & Girls Club of Georgetown. “We wanted the expansion done because our numbers spike so much in the summer.”

After-school program enrollment usually increases from about 70 to 120 children in the summer. Plus, the unit has needed the additional 2,500-sq.-ft. space to accommodate the growing membership, Anstee said. The Boys & Girls Club of Georgetown opened in 2006 with 20 children and now has 410 members.

“Our numbers have grown so much over the past four years it has become an issue,” Anstee said.

Contractor J. Jacobs Commercial, Moman Architects and Boyer & Associates are contributing design and construction services. Once construction commences May 3 at 7 a.m., volunteers will work constantly for 100 hours to complete construction. Local businesses have also contributed to the effort.

“We wouldn’t be able to have this happen without all the community synergy,” Anstee said. “We lean on the community to help us.”

A kick-off event is being held May 1 at Stonehaven Park, 1704 Hart Lane, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. "The Path to Greatness" event will feature food, live music and an art project. Partygoers, including children, residents of neighborhood near the club, city and county officials and staff, will create a motivational art piece interpreting what it means to be a great person. The artwork will go on display in the club addition.

The Boys & Girls Club of Georgetown opened in 2006 is located at 210 W. 18th St. Georgetown’s Stonehaven Unit is affiliated with the Boys & Girls Club of Central Texas and provides educational, arts, fitness and recreation programs for children ages 7 to 17.

For more information, visit www.bgcgeorgetown.org.