DALTON, Mass. — The Dalton Youth Center celebrated its refreshed building to better serve youth from across the county.

 

On Wednesday, parents and children, public officials like state Rep. Leigh Davis, and more gathered at the center's building at 27 South Carson Ave. to view the new updates.

 

Executive Director Ariana Massery, who started her role in January, welcomed the public and thanked everyone for attending and those who helped bring the more than 100-year-old building to what it is today.

 

"This building and this organization has existed in many ways to serve youth since 1909, and we have recently, in the last six months, made an investment to bring things to life, both from a programmatic standpoint and from a facility standpoint," she said.

 

The center, part of the nonprofit Community Recreation Association, got new paint, an updated gaming room with new furniture, a new gym floor, a refreshed kitchen with new appliances, and Smartboards and other technology to support tutoring.

 

It also celebrated programming through new partnerships with Berkshire Music School, Berkshire Innovation Center, and the Becket Arts Center. Youth will be able to learn robotics, how to write music, and more.

 

The center also partners with Berkshire Bounty to provide healthier snacks.

 

"[The programs] will all be doing supplemental programming on certain nights of the week to sort of bring the place to life, show kids what's possible in this world for them, and make sure that they sort of always have steady, stable mentorship inside the building through our core staff," Massery said. 

 

The upgrades came after a needs assessment with feedback from middle school students and was followed by strategic planning from the board on investments into the Youth Center. Once Massery started in her role, the CRA Board of Trustees gave the approval to go ahead with the project.

 

Massery said she was able to push the project to its end with help from many different people.

 

"I had the joy of getting to put the final touches on it by listening to the program development committee, which was law enforcement, it was school administrators, it was parents, it was teenagers who had been here in years past who had grown up, it's our leaders club youth advisory board," she said. "So I had the joy of getting to listen to what they all said ... I think I'm hearing we need a gaming room, and I'm hearing that we need healthy snacks because the percentage eligible for free and reduced meals is really high in Central Berkshire County. 

 

"So I had the joy of listening and then moving the team and hiring the right contractors and the right interior designer to make it all happen." 

 

The center supports around 2,500 youth through all of its programs annually.

 

The drop-in program supports children in Grade 3 through 8 from 2:30 to 8 p.m. Spectrum sponsors the drop-in program and donated a $5,000 check during the event. The center also supports youth outside of the town and invites anyone to come and join. 

 

"The refreshed Dalton Youth Center represents more than a physical renovation, it represents a renewed investment in local young people," Massery said. "Our goal is to create a welcoming place where children can come after school, connect with caring adults, receive academic support, enjoy a healthy snack, spend time with friends, and discover interests that they may have not known existed before. 

 

"We want every young person who is here, anyone who is within distance of this place, to know that this place is for you, and we hope that you discover more than you expected when you enter."