The Greater Fall River Re-Creation and the YouthBuild program will soon have a permanent home in the old Fall River District Court building on Rock Street.
A lease agreement was recently reached between the owner of the building and the two organizations. According to Grace Gerling, Executive Director of Greater Fall River Re-Creation, the two groups will start moving into the new space in the former courthouse, measuring 20,000 sq. ft in area. Gerling commented that they have been waiting a long time for this and there are plans to purchase the building so as to create a community center.
On the afternoon of April 24, the staff was given two hours’ notice to leave the old Bank Street Armory where they had maintained their office and programming space. City inspectors had deemed the building structurally unsafe when it was found that the loose granite blocks from the chimney were leaning toward the gym.
Since then, Re-Creation offices have been located at Family Services and programming activities have been held in schools around the city. City Councilor Jasiel Correia II provided space to YouthBuild operations.
Gerling said that summer programming will start on schedule next Monday, July 6. Most likely some of these same agencies and organizations are helping with brochure printing to create materials with more information about these activities.
