By Auggie Brown
Glasgow News 1
Boys and Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County leaders say they are close to starting construction on the new Guilfoil Recreation Center, a major expansion of the club’s campus on Columbia Avenue.
CEO Mallie Boston said the multi-million dollar project at 801 Columbia Ave has been in serious development for about two years and is fully funded through private donor support, including Ambassador Kelly Craft.
Boston said the club always knew it needed a gym of its own when it began searching for a permanent home several years ago.
She said the dream accelerated after a long-time club member, senior-level youth Kesley Amos, personally shared her hopes for more space with Craft during a visit to the club, helping spark formal talks about the new facility.
The Guilfoil Recreation Center will sit on a separate lot from the club’s main building at 701 Columbia Ave, which previously served as a bank.
Boston said the gym lot, once home to a tobacco warehouse, required zoning changes so the club could use the back portion of the property for parking and green space.
According to Boston, project partners Branscum Construction and Million Architects came into the rezoning process with detailed plans, which helped answer city committee questions about safety, traffic flow and how buses and parents will move through the expanded campus.
She said those approvals have kept the project on track and allowed the club to focus on the next step: preparing the site for construction.
Boston said the groundwork phase will likely take the most time because of layers of concrete and local soil conditions.
She said crews have already completed extensive geotechnical surveying and expect substantial dirt work as they prepare the pad for construction.
The club is using a prefabricated building for the Guilfoil Recreation Center, and Boston said fabrication began in April.
She said the structure could be delivered to Glasgow soon, even if the concrete pad is not yet ready, and may be staged elsewhere on the lot so the community can see visible progress.
Inside, Boston said the new facility will feature two middle school–size courts, restrooms, showers, concessions and ticketing space, with a pull-out stage option for events.
She said the club expects to use the gym for basketball and volleyball leagues, workforce development programs and other activities focused on healthy lifestyles.
Boston said the club is also exploring ways to open the space to the broader community, including rentals for tournaments, expos and large gatherings, with proceeds supporting youth programs.
She said staff are discussing possible memberships or open gym times for young adults, noting that the YMCA is currently the only other major gym option in the area and demand for space remains high.
The back of the site is also envisioned as new green space for the community.
Boston said early plans include a community garden, playground options and turf areas that could be used for kickball or other outdoor activities, depending on future funding and grants.
Despite the growth, Boston emphasized that the existing club building will remain the central hub for programs, with the new recreation center serving as an extension of the campus rather than a replacement.
She said the project will allow the club to serve more youth while continuing to offer low-cost child care, academic support and enrichment opportunities that she described as critical for many families.
Boston said donor support and community buy-in have made it possible for a community the size of Glasgow to develop what she believes will be one of the largest Boys and Girls Club campuses in Kentucky.
She said the club now views the campus as not just a space for kindergarten through 18-year-olds, but as a broader community center that reflects the community’s investment in its children and its future.
Key Facts
– Boys and Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County planning new Guilfoil Recreation Center at 801 Columbia Ave
– CEO Mallie Boston says project has been in serious planning for about two years
– Facility is a fully funded, multi-million dollar, donor-backed gym and recreation center
– Recent zoning changes clear way for gym, parking and green space on the site
– Groundwork expected to begin within the next two months, pending final approvals
– Prefabricated two-court gym building already in fabrication and expected by mid-July
– Center will support Boys and Girls Club programs and wider community events
– Existing club building at 701 Columbia Ave will remain the central hub and expand services
