Boys and Girls Club of Bowling Green opens new teen center

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Boys and Girls Club of America is an organization that has made a significant impact on the lives of children throughout the country.

The same can be said for the Boys and Girls Club of Bowling Green.

Since 1950, the club has served the youth in this community by giving them a safe place to hang out after school.

Now they’ll be able to help out even more kids after the grand opening of their new teen center.

“This building is for the teens that are here in this room and the teens that will come generations after them,” said Liz Bernard, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Bowling Green.

The plan to bring this building to Bowling Green began around five years ago.

After holding a groundbreaking ceremony 366 days ago, the organization held a ribbon cutting on Wednesday morning to officially open the doors to the Harold and Juanita Koon Teen Center, called The Club.

“The area that we saw the most need in was teenagers,” said D C Clement, the former board president for the Boys and Girls Club of Bowling Green, who played a key role in getting the ball rolling on this project. “Those 13 through 16, 17 year olds. There really isn’t anything else for them in after school programs.”

There’s no shortage of activities to keep the club’s teens entertained now in a space they can call their own.

The new facility has a pool table, multiple gaming systems, an art studio, a gym and a snack area – all just for teenagers.

“If we can keep them safe from making poor decisions or getting involved in negative behaviors, then to me, we have done our job,” Bernard added.

With the expanded space, the club will be able to welcome over 100 teens into this new building alone.

“Now we’re able to give them the type of programs and support and help that they need to get to where they want to be in life,” said Clement.

Many of these programs focus on providing resources to these kids, many of whom are in high school, to help them prepare and plan for their futures – be it academically or professionally.

“With our teenagers, we have a huge emphasis in college and career readiness,” said Bernard. “We want to prepare them to know what their future looks like when they leave these doors upon graduation.”

“It really gives them a great foundation,” Clement added. “That’s why the motto is Great Futures Start Here.”

Thanks in large part to this new facility and additional programs, more great futures can start right here in Bowling Green.

“Without the access, we are setting them up to fail,” said Bernard.

More than 150 members of the community, including several local and state representatives, attended the ribbon cutting.