Photo by Michael Kelly
A small group of children play and relax Monday afternoon at the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County on Lancaster Street. The club has up to 80 children at some times during the day. The organization recently announced it has enough grant money to refurbish an 8,500-square-foot gymnasium attached to the back of its building.

About a dozen children played tag, dodgeball and billiards while others lounged on the furniture in the common room Monday afternoon at the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County on Lancaster Street.

It was a quiet day at the club, which often has up to 80 children participating in activities.

Through a set of double doors in back of the common room, Rebecca Johnson, the club’s executive director, walked around a vast, empty concrete-floored warehouse that is now on its way to becoming a gymnasium.

“Our main goal is to add sports and physical fitness to the programming,” Johnson said.

The club serves about 200 children, with morning, after-school and summer programs, which include meals, educational programs and activities just for fun. Johnson said she expects enrollment to rise substantially with the new addition.

Drawing contributed
An architect’s visualization shows what the gymnasium behind the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County on Lancaster Street might look like once renovation work is done on the building.

The warehouse has been part of the club’s vision for several years, and a recent grant from the Marietta Community Foundation to pay for architectural fees to convert it to a gym was instrumental in getting the project underway. Sixmo Architects and Engineering, with an office in Marietta, will oversee the project, which is estimated to cost $855,000.

“We tried once before to get it up and going, but we found out the roof was deficient,” Johnson said. “We kept our programming going, and with a recent grant from Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services for $500,000, we were able to revitalize the project,” she said. “The Harmar Community Center donated the property in 2019, which meant we were able to actively fundraise for the project.”

The structure shows signs of recent work, but the problems with the roof are apparent with a glance, the old decking showing signs of deterioration and sagging. Plans for it include a basketball court that can be converted to volleyball, along with a fitness area, classroom, a concession stand, kitchen and laundry areas and storage. The building plans, Johnson said, include a separate entrance from the parking lot in the back.

“We expect to expand the number of kids we have,” Johnson said. “Now, we have 50 or 60 in the morning, 70 to 80 in the evening and 80 to 90 in daily attendance for our summer programs. We’re having to turn some away. With the gym, we’ll be able to offer sports, gym time, classes like yoga or dance, and we’ll be getting a Planet Fitness room for teens, with training for the staff.”

The gym will be a welcome addition not only for the club but also for the community.

“It will be available to recreational leagues, church groups, there are always people looking for a gym,” she said. The closure of the Marietta Family YMCA building last year left some groups in search of gym space, she noted.

The addition of a cooking area and laundry equipment will create opportunities to teach kids some domestic skills as well, she said.

Johnson expects the gym to be a particular attraction for teens. Teen membership has doubled in the past year, and she expects it to double again once the gym is in operation.

The community foundation was pleased to offer support.

“The strides that Boys & Girls Club has taken recently have been nothing short of impressive,” Dr. Bret Frye, Chairman of the Foundation’s board, said in a media release. “When we look at all the grant applications, one thing we like to see is sustainability. They (BGCWC) have shown that they are here to stay and play a positive role in our county.”

Sixmo Architects and Engineering already has put substantial time into consulting on the final design and inspecting the building to determine what’s needed, Johnson said.

Christina Schmidz, architect and project manager for Sixmo, said Monday the first priority is to get the structure sealed up.

“The first part is to button up the envelope, get a new roof structure and decking, and some work needs to be done on the exterior walls,” she said.

The firm intends to submit applications for permits by the end of March, and allowing a month for plan reviews and bidding, hopes to have a contractor by May, she said. Work of this scope, she said, would be expected to take six to nine months.

The club has been a pleasure to work with on the project, she said.

“They’ve been a great partner, with lots of great ideas to get the most out of this big space,” she said.

Johnson said it’s exciting to see the project under way.

“When we got that drawing from Sixmo of what it would look like, that’s when it started to seem real for me,” she said.

Michael Kelly can be contacted at mkelly@mariettatimes.com.

Boys and Girls Club of Washington County gymnasium project

• $20,000 grant from the Marietta Community Foundation to cover the cost of architectural fees.

• $500,000 Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services reimbursement grant.

• Other community grants and donations.

• Architectural and engineering services from Sixmo.

• Project total estimated cost: $855,000.

• Gymnasium is 8,500 square feet and requires new roof and other modifications and repairs.

• Club is accepting donations.

Source: Boys and Girls Club of Washington County.