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Community Center Kicks Off Fundraising
“We have three music rooms here, small individual music rooms with pianos or whatever,” Townley, executive director of Manhattan Youth, was saying in the building’s subbasement as invited parents, as well as reporters and photographers from local newspapers, began a walk-through of the four-level complex that is scheduled to open next April. Townley moved briskly through the construction site, arms waving in the direction of a planned multimedia room here, a cooking class there, studios for karate and video production around the corner. “This is a competition length pool. Hope to have a swim team,” he said matter of factly, standing on the bare concrete where the 75-foot pool will be installed. Then he walked the group to a nearby area that would be occupied by changing rooms, and more. “Parents are going to love this one,” he said. “This is a steam room. It’s not funded.” Along with the summer daycamp and afterschool and basketball programs that it now runs, Manhattan Youth will own and operate the center, which is built into a new residential building at 200 Chambers Street. (Its entrance is on Warren Street.) To outfit the 31,000 square foot space and provide the money to start some of the programs, Manhattan Youth says it is short $2.3 million of its $12.8 million goal. The tour, and ads in local community newspapers, are aimed at kicking off a money-raising campaign. “We need help,” Jim Hopkins, the center’s funding director, told the parents. “We need your help to tell people what’s going on here. To find people who can help us make some introductions.” Some parents have already begun the effort. One of them on the tour was Anna Grossman, the mother of a 3-year-old and founder of Hudson River Park Mamas, a network of Lower Manhattan parents. In an effort to solicit volunteer support, Grossman said, she has sent an e-mail blitz to the 800 members of her group. Parents, she said, are excited. “They want to make sure it is something that will actually happen.” At the end of the tour the parents sat around a long table. They asked questions and listened to Townley further explain his plans. “The areas of emphasis when we open up will be teens and seniors. It’s my personal commitment,” he said. Townley envisions teens as old as 18 coming to the center, to make videos, take robotics and academic classes, and swim. He is also eager to start a backpacking program. There will be no membership fee for the center. People will pay per program, but teen programs will be free, Townley said. “It’s really important for kids to have a place they feel is theirs,” he said. “The reason I don’t want to charge for a teen program is simple. Maybe half the parents can pay and maybe half can’t.” Townley said he sees a need for family counseling, and expects to use funds from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation to pay for a social worker at the center. “Children of divorce are coming to us,” he noted. “We can help a little with long-term counseling.” As the meeting wound down, Townley seemed eager to open the center up right then and let the fun begin. “We’re going swimming,” he said wistfully, “we’re going to the steam room!” Townley paused. “Do you think this should be an alcohol-free place?” he asked.
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