The A.R. “Gus” Barksdale Boys & Girl Club will hold a grand reopening event Fri., April 25 following repairs from a January burst-pipe flooding that damaged half the center.

The facility’s 200-plus elementary school aged younger members shared space with approximately 50 teens in the Shurett Teen Center and gymnasium. Creative scheduling, rotation and more outdoor activities, made it possible for the facility to stay open, said Teen Center Director Carol Wyre. 

“Everyone pulled together to make it effective,” said Wyre. “But after two months,” she said, laughing, “it’s nice to have the elbow room. We were all excited.” The youth wing was reopened March 31.

Nearly every room in the younger-members’ wing of the popular youth activities center at 1015 O’Kelly St. center needed to be repaired or renovated due to water damage. 

The grand reopening event will “show the community and leaders the much-needed improvements to our club,” said Terrence Artis, the club’s executive director, in an email to the News. 

“We also would like to take this time to reintroduce all of our wonderful programs and activities we offer,” Artis added.

Volunteers from BB&T bank will also help renovate two rooms in the Teen Center.

An independent affiliate of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, the club has about 975 youth members and is used daily by 225 to 250 kids. The facilities include a Teen Center, Learning Center, gym and computer lab.

The April 25 event, which starts at 10 a.m., will include a ribbon-cutting and open house. 

For more information, call 770-922-7402 or see bgcma.org/club/barksdale.