Two clubs want to use new facility

With Grovetown's newest community center nearly complete, two area organizations are eager to put it to use.

Barry Davis, a board member of The Boys and Girls Club of Augusta, told city officials at Monday's meeting that he'd like to base a new club out of the community center at Liberty Park.

"Grovetown is a prime location in Columbia County that will benefit the most from our organization," Davis said, adding that Grovetown proved to be a good location in a feasibility study by the national Boys and Girls Club.

Davis said the club, which has two locations in Augusta and a third in Thomson, offers several after-school programs, including computer classes, homework help, job-placement training and Passport to Adulthood, which explains to children what to expect as they mature into puberty.

The cost is $10 per child per school year, Davis said.

"I think it would be excellent for Grovetown," Davis said.

"It'd be a great tool that will eliminate some of the after-school mischief."

Also looking to bring activities for children to the community center, Grovetown Mayor Dennis Trudeau said The Family Y recently approached city officials about leasing the community center to provide some of its programs to the city.

"What they would like to do is they would like to start forming programs for basketball starting in January with programs to start in February or March," Trudeau said.

He said The Family Y officials plan to gauge interest for the basketball program and others in Grovetown, Euchee Creek and North Harlem elementary schools.

When research is complete, Trudeau said, The Family Y officials will present cooperative options to the city council.