Time to put the city owned community center idea to rest.
Ever since the old community center that was sold for $115,000 to create a micro brew pub/restaurant, there has been a long and grueling story about what the city needs to offer to the citizens of Galesburg at large.
I have written several times about this journey since 2013, and I think I can safely say that the residents of Galesburg should put all this conjecture of a city run community center to rest. Or one would hope.
The latest minor flare up about money spent on providing a safe space for youth activities came up at the last council meeting when the city council voted to offer a grant to help All-Star Sports Academy of Western Illinois. There were some reservations from at least two of the council members that abstained but overall, it was a good bet to support a need.
What makes this more interesting is where the money came from. The city council created a bond of close to $5 million with the money to be earmarked for community center development. There were caveats in that the money was to be specifically used for capital infrastructure, road/sidewalk improvements, and developing a community center.
When it seemed no one could make a final decision as to what was really needed or wanted by everyone regarding a community center, the city council voted to spend half of that money to repair Galesburg’s streets.
Huh?
Legally it could but the initial intent by any reasonable assumption was that street improvements would be near a proposed community center. On the other hand, I guess fewer city street potholes are a good thing.
Losing the old Simmons Street fire station community center in 2013 and then the Carver Center to a mysterious fire in 2016, set the wheels in motion for years to bring back a Galesburg owned center. But as time progressed, that space grew larger in the minds by many. That former small space started to grow in people’s requests to create some sort of uber center. And frankly, it was becoming a bit of a monster that Galesburg’s city budget could not endure.
The old community center (former fire station) was useful but at the expense of about $57,000 a year. It never paid for itself.
That actually isn’t a lot of money considering it was used and well-liked by those that did partake in its use. So much of the issues regarding this chronic call to arms could have been so easily remedied by the city council shortly after the sale.
It would have been easy to replicate a space as simple as the old community center for a moderate amount of money. You can blame some of the leadership in the city council in 2013 on not trying to shortly replicate that center.
But in April 2015, there was an agreement by the city to have some community center services to be provided by the Boys and Girls Club at the Carver Center.
Then the mysterious fire happened (determined to be arson). Then there was even a groundbreaking event attended to rebuild the Carver Center. Then nothing. And as I have said before, NO ONE is talking as to why.
As time progressed, there was discussion on spending millions of dollars to build or buy (then renovate) to create something of a nirvana for youth, seniors, classes, rental space, etc.
There was a plan at one point to consider using a great deal of the old Churchill Jr. High School. That would have been a massive undertaking to modernize and make it safe by removing asbestos, upgraded fire doors, electrical upgrades, mechanical upgrades, etc. It would have been a huge financial undertaking which was smartly dismissed after a new city council was seated.
There is still some bonded grant money still sitting in reserve that is earmarked for community center-type projects. The council has doled out some of that money as previously noted to the All-Star Sports Academy. Some of it also went to the YMCA in August of 2025.
That money that went to the YMCA was well spent and by the time this writing is viewed, the grand opening for a new addition to the YMCA in the form of an indoor playground/daycare center has occurred. There is also new teen center space.
These improved facilities will also enhance the YMCA food services that provides youth over 3,000 meals per month to those in need. The YMCA has been feeding our youth since it took over this responsibility over from the United Way.
The overall plan should be to let those that can manage facilities and provide specific community services obtain what remains of that bond money. After all the missteps on this matter, it appears to be the best solution.
Stephen Podwojski is a retired, well-traveled former hotel consultant and training specialist. He was also a long time original member of the Register Mail Community Roundtable.
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Many Paths: Galesburg should end its community center dream | Opinion
Reporting by Stephen Podwojski, Special to the Register-Mail / Galesburg Register-Mail
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Stephen Podwojski, Special to the Register-Mail | USA TODAY Network
