TUESDAY, May 12, 2026 |
Photo – Proposed floor plan for Saratoga’s Boys and Girls Club – Courtesy Town of Saratoga
As reported by Bigfoot99, representatives from the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming met with the Saratoga Town Council last month to discuss building a recreation center and gymnasium on town‑owned property. The facility, planned for West Elm Avenue, would allow the organization to run afterschool and weekend programs for the youth of Platte Valley.
Speaking at the April 22nd meeting, Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming Chief Executive Officer Ashley Bright said the existing Platte Valley Community Center does not meet the organization’s strict security needs.
Instead of using the Platte Valley Community Center, the Boys and Girls Club representatives proposed constructing a 14,000‑square‑foot gymnasium behind the Saratoga Public Library. The youth‑service organization also offered to build a second 8,000‑ to 9,000‑square‑foot gym for the Saratoga Recreation Department. The town would only have to pay for utility and janitorial costs. Carbon County School District Two would also have access to the second gym.
The facility is expected to cost roughly $9.5 million to construct and $400,000 annually to run, with the majority of the money coming from donations. Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming board member Daney Tanner said residents have already pledged more than $1.5 million in support over the next three years.
CEO Bright asked the town to sign a memorandum of understanding, giving the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming access to the proposed site on West Elm Avenue. Bright said a signed document will allow him to begin fundraising for the project. Mayor Chuck Davis said he would have Town Attorney Kylie Waldrip review the document and, if she had no changes, the governing body would vote to sign it at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
At the May 6th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mayor Davis said Attorney Waldrip needed clarification on addresses and other administrative items before the governing body could sign the agreement. The mayor said he’ll send the revised document to Boys and Girls Club CEO Ashley Bright for the requested changes before Attorney Waldrip conducts a final review.
Mayor Davis did not provide a proposed signing date.
According to the draft MOU, the town agrees to give the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming access to the property for “due diligence” and refrain from leasing the land to anyone else without first notifying the organization. The club would be required to present a conceptual development plan within 120 days of the signing of the agreement, which would expire in either 12 or 18 months depending on what the town council decides.
