Grand Opening Set For Kingsport Boys and Girls Club
08/28/08 Morning Edition http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/education/article/grand_opening_set_for_kingsport_boys_and_girls_club/13323/
08/28/08 Morning Edition http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/education/article/grand_opening_set_for_kingsport_boys_and_girls_club/13323/
The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kingsport is poised and ready to welcome the public to its new Positive Place location.
The Kingsport youth center is opening its doors just in time for students headed back to school.
Since the 1960’s the club has been housed on Lee Street, off Windsor Street. The new location now sits off Stone Drive behind the Pratt’s BBQ and Texas Roadhouse restaurants.
University of Tennessee head basketball coach Bruce Pearl will be on hand to usher in the grand opening Thursday at noon.
The state of the art facility has four computer academic rooms or “pods.” The quadrants break children into age groups: 6-7, 8-9, 10-12 and teenagers. There are also two gymnasiums, a tread wall for climbing and a golf training lab.
The new 44,000 square foot facility started taking in club members August 11th.
Resource Development Director Katherine Carrico says the club averages 160 students a day, although it has a Tennessee license to take in 325 children daily.
The old Lee Street location was 14,000 square feet smaller, but managed to serve 240 students a day.
The club and the Kingsport Area Transit System (KATS) offer at buses to transport students from Jackson and Lincoln Elementary Schools. KATS Transportation Planner Jack Qualls says the bus service offers two vehicles to transport 60 students from two schools to the youth center.
There are 12 schools listed on the Kingsport School System website.
Ninety-percent of the Kingsport Boys and Girls Club members come from low income households. Organizers say this places a burden on parents looking for a safe place for their children to stay while they’re at work. Club officials say they are looking for additional assistance to transport children to the center. ###
The Kingsport youth center is opening its doors just in time for students headed back to school.
Since the 1960’s the club has been housed on Lee Street, off Windsor Street. The new location now sits off Stone Drive behind the Pratt’s BBQ and Texas Roadhouse restaurants.
University of Tennessee head basketball coach Bruce Pearl will be on hand to usher in the grand opening Thursday at noon.
The state of the art facility has four computer academic rooms or “pods.” The quadrants break children into age groups: 6-7, 8-9, 10-12 and teenagers. There are also two gymnasiums, a tread wall for climbing and a golf training lab.
The new 44,000 square foot facility started taking in club members August 11th.
Resource Development Director Katherine Carrico says the club averages 160 students a day, although it has a Tennessee license to take in 325 children daily.
The old Lee Street location was 14,000 square feet smaller, but managed to serve 240 students a day.
The club and the Kingsport Area Transit System (KATS) offer at buses to transport students from Jackson and Lincoln Elementary Schools. KATS Transportation Planner Jack Qualls says the bus service offers two vehicles to transport 60 students from two schools to the youth center.
There are 12 schools listed on the Kingsport School System website.
Ninety-percent of the Kingsport Boys and Girls Club members come from low income households. Organizers say this places a burden on parents looking for a safe place for their children to stay while they’re at work. Club officials say they are looking for additional assistance to transport children to the center. ###
