LEXINGTON, Ky. — The newly renovated Black and Williams Neighborhood Center Gymnasium officially opened Wednesday, Feb. 5.
Angie Green Hampton said pictures of the inside of the gym can’t compare to the memories she has in this gym. Now she’s looking forward to seeing families create new memories of their own.
“The gym is different from what it used to be because I went to school here. So, you know, used to be hardwood floors. We didn’t have… the stage wasn’t as big. But yeah, it’s a lot of changes cause it’s been a while since I’ve been here,” Green said.
Formerly Booker T. Washington Elementary School, it’s now Lexington’s historic Black and Williams Center, a longtime community gathering place and the home of social resources since the 1970s.
After the center’s gym went untouched by the city, and dealt with extreme wear and tear over the years, in 2017 the Georgetown Street neighborhood and city leaders embarked on renovations that have been completed.
The 5,000-square-foot gym has new windows and flooring, an HVAC system and Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible restrooms.
“With the city getting a stimulation of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money we were able to focus our attention back on this space because we needed the space, our community needed the space to be able to have fun,” Lynch said.
The gym will work with programs such as the West End Community Empowerment Program. It will also serve other agencies, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness Lexington, United Way of the Bluegrass and several others.
Green said they want to put surveys out into the community to gauge community interest and continue the original work started at the center.
“So we allow them to say, ‘Hey, would you like to do a workshop here? Would you like to do a health fair here?’ So that’s kind of what our vision is. It’s just to make the community a part of this facility,” Green said.
The gym’s renovations cost nearly $1.9 million and were funded partially by funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
The neighborhood center was dedicated in honor of Evelyn Black and Alex Williams, trailblazers and local leaders in Lexington’s African-American community.
