Renovated BCYF Gallivan Community Center opens

Mayor Martin J. Walsh together with Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF), the City of Boston's Public Facilities Department, and members of the community today celebrated the opening of the renovated BCYF Gallivan Community Center in Mattapan. The $3 million dollar, one-year renovation is a key part of the Mayor's $50 million dollar FY19-FY23 Capital Plan investment in BCYF facilities.

"The residents of Mattapan will be amazed at the transformation of their community center," said Mayor Walsh. "We've invested three million dollars to meet the needs of our residents, and improved this well-used community space so everyone can enjoy it. I am excited to see everything that the center is now able to offer."  

Upgrades include replacing the roof and gym floor, installing air conditioning in the gymnasium, upgrading the fire alarm system and emergency lighting, installing new storm water drainage, repaving the parking lot, installing a transfer switch for emergency generator connection, upgrading power outlets and select lighting, and improvements to the bathroom and the exterior facade.  

"Community Centers are essential to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods throughout Boston," said Chief of Health and Human Services, Marty Martinez. "The renovation of the Gallivan Community Center is more than fixes and system upgrades, it is about investing in our community and ensuring that resources are allocated to continue and enhance the rich programming that promotes the well being of our residents."

A new playground was also built today at the BCYF Gallivan opening through a partnership with KaBOOM, Morgan Stanley Foundation and the Foundation for BCYF. More than 200 volunteers transformed an empty site into a kid-designed, state-of-the-art playground in just six hours. The design is based on kids' drawings created at a special design event in July.

"This playground is part of Morgan Stanley's commitment to supporting healthy starts for children," said Jeff Swartz, Morgan Stanley Managing Director - Wealth Management and Complex Manager. "Safe places to play are vital to that foundation and Morgan Stanley's long-standing collaboration with KaBOOM! helps to ensure communities have great places to play for kids and families and creates spaces where kids' potential is supported, nurtured and celebrated."

At the celebration, the Community Room at BCYF Gallivan was named after Toni Cromwell, a longtime Gallivan resident, former Administrative Coordinator of the center and former BHA employee who passed away in August 2017. Her son and lifelong resident of the Gallivan Boulevard Apartments, Dana Cromwell, spoke at the event.

"I am very proud of where I am from and I am looking forward to seeing even more good things happening here at the renovated Gallivan Community Center," said Dana Cromwell. "My mom spent her life working with youth and giving back to the community and my family is honored to have the community room named after her." 

BCYF, the City of Boston's Public Facilities Department, and Powers & Co. Architecture collaborated closely with Northern Construction, the general contractor, on this project. In addition to a $3 million dollar investment in the Gallivan Community Center, Mayor Walsh is investing $1.9 million dollars in an interior renovation of the BCYF Mattahunt Community Center and is also investing in a kitchen upgrade at the Mildred Avenue K-8 School/BCYF Mildred Avenue Community Center in Mattapan.