Dutchess
County is one step closer to building a brand new youth center after the county Legislature passed a
series of resolutions.
One of the resolutions includes turning a deserted YMCA building into a multimillion-dollar youth center that
will hopefully benefit county and Poughkeepsie residents.
Nakia Simmons is looking forward to her soon finally having a place to go since
she moved from Westchester a few years ago.
"It's about time that we put the young people first,” says Simmons. "Especially for that age
group, let’s say between 10 and 15, 16,
there's nothing to do. So I
think it's a huge victory for the city.”
Rebuilding our Community and Children, Inc. representative Satara Brown said
the announcement made her emotional.
"You know, I cried all last night but it was all tears of joy,” says Brown. “I really see the youth center being a central
location where you can drop all your kids off and there's something to do for
everyone.”
The vote was held on Monday and allows $10 million received by the county
through the federal American Rescue
Plan to be used for demolition, design and part of construction costs.
In addition, the county is acquiring ownership of the property and will be the
lead agency to spearhead the project.
The vote came out to 24-1, with the lone legislator who voted no saying his
concerns were about the projects funding and not the center itself.
County Executive Marc Molinaro tells News 12, "This is going to revolutionize the way we provide
services to young people and their families…It’s going to make a real
difference in the life of kids in Dutchess County and be an example for the rest of the country."