Local News

Expansion of center discussed

BUCKHANNON -- As Stockert Youth and Community Center's capital campaign continues, the city of Buckhannon hosted a town hall meeting this week in which citizens could share their thoughts on the facility's expansion project.

Back in December of 2017, Debora Brockelman, executive director of SYCC, approached city council seeking guidance on how to enhance and extend the center's gymnasium/auditorium.

With SYCC providing an average of more than 12,000 youth involvement hours per month through a multitude of programs and activities, she said space has been limited.

In 2004, the Youth Center underwent what was considered phase one renovations, which included asbestos removal and upgraded bathrooms. Brockelman said during that time, council and board members of SYCC had discussed phase two as expanding the gymnasium. The project is expected to create a full-size gymnasium, and would make space for a stage, a concession area and for two games to be played at the same time.

During Monday night's town hall meeting, roughly 30-25 folks came out to learn more about the expansion project and offer input. City officials were also on hand to discuss the particulars of the project, including the history, finances, possible grants and the proposed multi-use space.

Mayor David McCauley explained that when Joyce S. Stockert died on March 16, 1994, her will stated that upon the Upshur County Commission's acceptance within six months following the probate of her will, that $500,000 was to be bequeathed for the purchase, construction and operation of a youth center facility to be designated and named "The Stockert Youth Center."

Stockert specifically provided that "the operation of the youth center shall … provide for entertainment, instruction, recreational athletics, sport and other wholesome activities for the youth of Upshur County."

On Sept. 15, 1994, the commission formally and unanimously accepted the bequest in accordance with Stockert's will. The county entered into a rent-free, year-to-year lease with the Upshur County Board of Education to use the old East Main Street School, which had closed at the end of the 1994 school year to house the youth center.

Since then, SYCC continues to host a variety of activities and programs from basketball to a drill team that has more than 100 members.

"This is a safe haven for all of the kids in our community," said McCauley.

Regarding the finances, Amby Jenkins, the city's finance administration director, advised that the capital campaign has raised roughly $190,000 - with the projected cost of the project being approximately $400,000. She noted there are several donors who continuously donate to the campaign.

Callie Cronin-Sams, the city of Buckhannon's grant writer and information coordinator, informed folks that receiving funds from the abandoned mines land grant is a possibility that could enhance SYCC's project. She said the grant is not just specific to abandoned mine lands, but also includes an extended five miles from the site.

"So I got my wheels turning a little bit and started thinking about how the city might be able to use (the grant)," she said, mentioning the old mines in Sago, Tennerton and near the Industrial Park road.

Cronin-Sams said if the city receives the grant funding a portion could be utilized to extend the current walking and biking trail.

"But there also could be some money in there for the expansion here as well," she said. "… It could be not only a youth and community center for sports and fitness, but also a place you could come park if you're from out of town or out of the county - get on your bike, maybe ride it in whichever direction you want to go, come back ... maybe even take a shower and then go down to Stone Tower (Brews) or CJ (Maggies), somewhere downtown to eat or do a little shopping.

"It really kind of connects to the local economy as well, possibly," Cronin-Sams added.

Cronin-Sams said September is the absolute earliest the city will know if they received the grant or not.

McCauley briefly spoke about how the downtown Colonial Theater -- currently under renovation --will affect the folks who congregate at SYCC.

"The notion of the Stockert Youth and Community Center is not about four walls. It's about totality. It's what Joyce Stockert wrote about in her will. She wanted this to be a diverse holistic kind of a program, and I think for many years we've just kind of scraped the surface relative to what we really could be for the kids of our community," he said.

"What we want to do as we complete both of these projects is to be able to take the kids that are more arts-oriented, walk them that couple hundred feet up the street and let them perform in the Colonial Theater," McCauley said. "So by supporting one project, you're really supporting the other project."

Don Nestor and Rob Rupp, who both have nearly 50 years of service to SYCC, facilitated Monday's workshop, in which community members were split into groups for a SWOT analysis -- strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats -- of the proposed project. Community members praised SYCC's uniqueness, location and the variety of activities offered; however, some listed concerns about funding and maintaining the facility once the project is completed.