By james art If all the pieces fall into place at the right time, the Boys & Girls Club of Fremont County hopes to purchase the post office building at 505 Macon Ave. in the near future.
Located at 129 N. Fourth St., the Boys & Girls Club has a For Sale sign on its building, but rest assured, the club isn’t closing its doors, it’s just ready to open a new one.
Chief executive Eric Thompson said the post office had a contract with the club but reminded the community the proposed purchase was not a done deal. That’s contingent on the sale of the Fourth Street building, which is currently listed for $582,500.
“A couple of different factors motivated us to start moving away from where we are right now and find a bigger place where we can have everything under one roof,” Thompson said. “…At this point, it’s kind of like, ‘Hail Mary.’
Jeff and Connie Mueller, the former owners of the Fourth Street building, leased the facility to the Boys & Girls Club for many years and supported the club, Thompson said. The couple collected rent from the club for many years and donated a substantial portion immediately.
The club entered into a two-year purchase agreement with the Mueller family and finalized the sale in February after receiving a $500,000 infrastructure grant from the Colorado Opioid Reduction Council.
The Fourth Street building consists of more than 6,300 square feet with parking and an outdoor patio right downtown. The Macon Avenue property is about 13,000 square feet.
The move to Macon Ave. The 505 allows for easy access to Macon Plaza and the Cañon City Public Library, but also removes the hesitation some parents may have about the club being located so close to establishments that serve alcohol.
Still, Thompson said officers are outside with the children while they wait to pick them up so they aren’t alone.
“It’s still safe, but we want to get rid of the feeling of being near bars and nightclubs,” said board member Rachel Dettner
On June 6, 2011, the Boys & Girls Club of Fremont County opened its doors to middle school-aged youth in Canyon City with six children in attendance. Today, the year-round club offers after-school care for 5-12 year olds at Cañon Exploratory School Monday through Friday and all day on Fridays when there is no school. Teen Clubs are from 6:00pm to 9:00pm on Friday and Saturday nights and the After School Club for youth ages 13 and up is open from 3:00pm to 6:00pm Monday through Friday at 129 N Fourth St.
“We offer all evidence-based programs,” Thompson said. “We provide a structured environment. It’s not Romper Room, even from a 5-year-old level – there’s homework help, there’s STEM and art and all these evidence-based programs from National that we have access to that teach social/emotional well-being, self-esteem, life skills, how dealing with bullies – very very valuable, useful, applicable skills for young people.’
He said parents were beginning to realize that staff were doing more than playing ball with the kids after school, which could explain the club’s steady growth.
There are currently 307 registered members, not including guests. About 450-500 children pass through the club’s doors a year.
There are currently four paid full-time employees, including Thompson, and nine part-time employees.
More young people means more staff, increased hours and a bigger facility. The board considered expanding into its current building, but the cost estimate was $2 million. The building on Macon Ave. 505 is listed for $1,335,000.
Dettner reminds the public that there are two separate pots of money from which the club operates. One is for the actual operating costs and the other is noted for the physical structure only.
Funding for the proposed new facility is not an issue as the club uses grants and other means of funding.
“Operating costs are where we need community support to keep the doors open, to keep teenagers off the street, to provide parents with after-school options for their younger kids — or their older kids.” , Thompson said.
The club annually raises funds from its donors, community members and businesses for operations, events and activities. The club does not receive funding from the national Boys & Girls Club organization.
The Fremont Center for the Arts currently leases the post office, but the lease expires at the end of December. Its board is looking for its new, permanent home. The board has contacted Fremont County officials about financial support and will take a formal “inquiry” to the city of Canyon City on Monday. UnbridledACTS, which owns the Post Office, is hosting a matching fund for FCA as they transition to a new location. UnbridledACTS will match $1 for $1 up to $25,000 for a total goal of $50,000 by December.
To see the full list of programs and volunteer opportunities available at the Boys & Girls Club of Fremont County, or to learn how to donate to the Club, visit their website, call them at 719-345-4038 or email at [email protected].