TUESDAY – May 26, 2026 |
Photo – Overhead view of property selected by Boys & Girls Club in Saratoga – Courtesy Town of Saratoga
Citing reluctance to give up a town‑owned street, Saratoga officials voted to offer alternate sites for a Boys and Girls Club recreation center.
The Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming has been exploring the possibility of expanding into Saratoga. However, bringing the youth service organization into the Platte Valley would require construction of a new 14,000‑square‑foot gymnasium and recreation center, as the Platte Valley Community Center does not meet the group’s security and layout needs.
Club representatives proposed building the facility near the Saratoga Public Library on West Elm Avenue and asked the governing body to sign a memorandum of understanding allowing them to conduct tests to determine if the site is suitable for their needs. Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming CEO Ashley Bright said the signed MOU would also allow his organization to begin fundraising for the project.
At the May 6th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis said Attorney Kylie Waldrip needed clarification on addresses and other administrative items before the governing body could sign the agreement. The mayor said he would send the revised document back to Boys and Girls Club CEO Bright to make the requested changes.
At the May 20th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mayor Davis said Attorney Waldrip has recommended refraining from entering into the memorandum of understanding.
Mayor Davis said Boys and Girls Club representatives had been looking at land near the library. However, the town is still negotiating with Carbon County and School District Two to assume ownership of the library building and surrounding property. Until that deal is resolved, the mayor said the Club will need to identify another site for its recreation center.
Mayor Davis said Boys and Girls Club representatives chose a parcel of town‑owned land south of the library, but that choice would require the town to relinquish control of a portion of West Hickory Avenue.
Mayor Davis said the Boys and Girls Club has stated it will need approximately two acres of land for the recreation center. The mayor expressed concern over giving the entire street to the organization and suggested a different parcel for the facility.
Mayor Davis said he believed the Boys and Girls Club chose the site because it is relatively flat and close to Saratoga Middle High School. The mayor asked the council if they should recommend a different location farther to the west.
Councilman Mike Cooley agreed it would be the better choice. Public Works Director Emery Penner said hooking to the town’s water and sewer infrastructure would be easier at the alternate location.
R.G. Raymer Construction owner Randy Raymer said the agreement between the town, and the Boys and Girls Club appeared to be shifting, as the organization had initially proposed building the recreation center near the library. Mayor Davis said the group was never fully clear about where it intended to locate the facility.
When pressed for a specific location, Mayor Davis said Boys and Girls Club representatives selected the area behind the library, which would require taking ownership of a portion of West Hickory Avenue. In order to secure funding, the Club asked the town to commit to leasing the requested land. The mayor said the governing body has not pledged any specific parcel to the youth service organization but is open to discussions.
Mayor Davis reiterated that Town Attorney Kylie Waldrip had too many unresolved questions about the original memorandum of understanding to recommend signing the agreement. Councilman Jerry Fluty added that the town is permitted to withdraw from the MOU even after it has been adopted.
Last month, representatives from the Boys and Girls Club of Central Wyoming met with the Saratoga Town Council to discuss the project. During that meeting, the Club offered to build an additional 8,000 to 9,000‑square‑foot gymnasium for town and School District Two use.
Speaking to Randy Raymer, Mayor Davis said the town has not decided if it wants to take on the added financial responsibility of the second gym.
Councilman Bub Barkhurst said there was discussion about School District Two contributing to the operating costs of the second gym, though the district has not committed to doing so.
Mayor Davis asked the council for their opinion on the matter. The governing body agreed that they are not open to the idea of vacating a portion of Hickory Avenue and suggested a parcel farther west of the proposed site.
The council agreed that if the town and county reach an agreement on the library, that land could be offered to the Boys and Girls Club, since it was the group’s initial choice. Until then, the town will present the site to the west, which does not require vacating Hickory Avenue.
