by thomas leskin (staff writer tleskin@republicanherald.com)
FRACKVILLE - The Junior Spartans Basketball now has a new home in the Schuylkill Mall.Bob Gilgore, president of the organization, said that it officially moved into its much-needed new space, the former McDonald's inside the mall, at the end of October, after months of preparing the space.
The youth basketball program started in 2008 with eight players and has since grown to 185, he said. It's for children in kindergarten through sixth grade that live in the North Schuylkill School District.
"Long story short, with the closing of Frackville (Area) Elementary and Ashland (Area) Elementary, it kind of left us with no home," Gilgore said.
Last year, the organization rented space in the Frackville Municipal and Community Center at Center and Oak streets. The facility is the former Frackville Area Elementary Center and it now houses borough hall and a fitness center. Gilgore said the group spent about $6,000 for three months rent at the center, so an easier solution was needed.
With the help of the organization's board members, coaches and volunteers, they were able find the space at the mall, which has been cooperative, also providing a deal on a lease.
"We started construction in June and all of the work was done by volunteers," Gilgore said. "It was many long nights and long hours."
He added that the space for the courts, which is in the back of the former McDonald's, used to be an old warehouse for a dollar store and wasn't being used.
"There were two bathrooms and a second story-storage unit," said Stephanie Bennyhoff, treasurer. "We spent countless hours here."
She said that all of the structures in the warehouse were metal and were screwed together, so it had to taken apart piece by piece.
For the steps that led to the structure's second floor, she said it took four people to pull them down.
The rest of the work included tearing down drywall, putting in new flooring, painting and installing basketball hoops.
The only work not completed by volunteers was ABC Sprinkler Co.'s assistance, because it's required to have a certified contractor work on the fire system.
With the new space open after months of work, there are children there every day of the week.
Gilgore said youngsters in kindergarten through second grade play all their games at the mall, while students in third through sixth grades play around the county in the Schuylkill County Youth Basketball League, with Junior Spartans' home games held at North Schuylkill High School.
All of the Junior Spartans practice at the mall.
The organization is also supported by the school district, as Gilgore said it's the feeder program for North Schuylkill.
"As our kids learn the fundamentals, by the time they get to the junior high and high school level, they have more knowledge than most because they've had a strong feeder program coming in," he said.
With all of the renovations paid for through fundraisers, the organization survives off of whatever money it generates.
Gilgore said there is a small admission charged to games, and there are the fees charged to play for the Junior Spartans. Money is also made from a concession stand, which was opened during Black Friday shopping hours to provide breakfast to early shoppers and to try to raise more funds for the organization.
"That pays our utilities, and there's a lot of other costs such as uniforms and insurance," he said.
The group plans to rent out the space for birthday parties in the future to raise more money, and possibly open it on Friday and Saturday nights so the children that hang out in the mall will be able to come shoot hoops.
The youth basketball program started in 2008 with eight players and has since grown to 185, he said. It's for children in kindergarten through sixth grade that live in the North Schuylkill School District.
"Long story short, with the closing of Frackville (Area) Elementary and Ashland (Area) Elementary, it kind of left us with no home," Gilgore said.
Last year, the organization rented space in the Frackville Municipal and Community Center at Center and Oak streets. The facility is the former Frackville Area Elementary Center and it now houses borough hall and a fitness center. Gilgore said the group spent about $6,000 for three months rent at the center, so an easier solution was needed.
With the help of the organization's board members, coaches and volunteers, they were able find the space at the mall, which has been cooperative, also providing a deal on a lease.
"We started construction in June and all of the work was done by volunteers," Gilgore said. "It was many long nights and long hours."
He added that the space for the courts, which is in the back of the former McDonald's, used to be an old warehouse for a dollar store and wasn't being used.
"There were two bathrooms and a second story-storage unit," said Stephanie Bennyhoff, treasurer. "We spent countless hours here."
She said that all of the structures in the warehouse were metal and were screwed together, so it had to taken apart piece by piece.
For the steps that led to the structure's second floor, she said it took four people to pull them down.
The rest of the work included tearing down drywall, putting in new flooring, painting and installing basketball hoops.
The only work not completed by volunteers was ABC Sprinkler Co.'s assistance, because it's required to have a certified contractor work on the fire system.
With the new space open after months of work, there are children there every day of the week.
Gilgore said youngsters in kindergarten through second grade play all their games at the mall, while students in third through sixth grades play around the county in the Schuylkill County Youth Basketball League, with Junior Spartans' home games held at North Schuylkill High School.
All of the Junior Spartans practice at the mall.
The organization is also supported by the school district, as Gilgore said it's the feeder program for North Schuylkill.
"As our kids learn the fundamentals, by the time they get to the junior high and high school level, they have more knowledge than most because they've had a strong feeder program coming in," he said.
With all of the renovations paid for through fundraisers, the organization survives off of whatever money it generates.
Gilgore said there is a small admission charged to games, and there are the fees charged to play for the Junior Spartans. Money is also made from a concession stand, which was opened during Black Friday shopping hours to provide breakfast to early shoppers and to try to raise more funds for the organization.
"That pays our utilities, and there's a lot of other costs such as uniforms and insurance," he said.
The group plans to rent out the space for birthday parties in the future to raise more money, and possibly open it on Friday and Saturday nights so the children that hang out in the mall will be able to come shoot hoops.
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