Excitement is building as groundbreaking for Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County’s new and expanded Duneland Club nears. Porter County Community Foundation invested $25,000 toward the $4 million Duneland Club’s capital campaign. The Community Foundation’s gift is contributing to the 19,000 square foot expansion of the existing Club adding new after-school youth development activities and programs.
“The expansion and renovation of our current Duneland Club will make this a destination location for the youth and teens in Chesterton. It will not only be a safe and fun place for children to go after-school and during the summer, but a place where all youth will want to go,” states Ryan Smiley, president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Porter County.
The building expansion plan includes a full-size indoor gymnasium, a two-story rock climbing wall, a new lobby, reception and concessions area, an exergaming fitness studio, an education center and a teen tech lounge with state-of-the art technology equipment.
“The Community Foundation is pleased to be able to provide this grant to help the Boys & Girls Clubs expand their Duneland facility. We appreciate the important role the Clubs play in Porter County and we are honored to join with so many others in helping make this expansion possible,” said Bill Higbie, vice president of development for the Porter County Community Foundation.