Glasgow Boys and Girls Club breaks ground on new recreation center
GLASGOW, Ky. (WNKY) — More children in Barren County could soon have a place to learn, play and explore new interests. The Boys and Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County broke ground Monday, Nov. 2, on the new Guilfoil Recreation Center, which will expand the club’s programs and make room for more children.
The new center, located at 801 Columbia Avenue in Glasgow, is being built thanks to a generous gift from the Craft family. It will be named in honor of Kelly Craft’s parents, recognizing the Guilfoil family’s longtime ties to the Glasgow community.
More than just a gym
Right now, the club uses a makeshift outdoor gym for activities like basketball, volleyball and archery. The new building will give those programs a much-needed indoor space.
There’s more planned than sports.
The gymnasium will include a stage where children can sing, dance and act. That’s especially exciting for the club’s Triple Threat Club, which offers all three activities.
“Having the stage in the gymnasium is going to be a huge component to growing those programs,” said Mallie Boston, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County.
The building will also have room for community sports leagues, concessions for events and showers for people who need them.
Outside, about 2.5 additional acres of green space will make room for a larger playground and garden. The club hopes to use the expanded garden to teach children more about growing their own food.
Making room for more kids
Space has been a problem for years.
The Boys and Girls Club currently serves about 180 children each day. When Boston joined the organization 15 years ago, that number was closer to 100.
And there’s still a waiting list.
“For years we held a waiting list that was the same size, if not more, than kids we had attending on a daily basis,” Boston said.
The new center could change that. Boston expects the expansion to allow the club to welcome another 60 to 100 children.
The club serves children ages 5 to 18 through after-school and summer programs that include education, job skills, healthy living and substance abuse prevention.
Looking ahead to next fall
Boston credited the Craft family for making the project possible. The new recreation center will be named in honor of Kelly Craft’s parents, recognizing the Guilfoil family’s longtime ties to the Glasgow community.
Construction is moving forward with Branscum Construction handling the project. If the weather cooperates and everything stays on schedule, the club hopes to open the new center in August or September 2027.
For Boston, the biggest benefit is simple.
“The biggest thing it’s going to do is provide more space and more opportunity for kids to come into the building,” she said.
