Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club reopens Lucile Palmaro Clubhouse in the Bronx after a $7.5 million renovation.

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The Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club reopened its Lucile Palmaro Clubhouse at a ribbon cutting ceremony last week, after a years-long capital campaign to transform the flagship building.

Kips Bay Program Director, Alberto Rodriguez, said the biggest challenge they aimed to address with the renovation was space limitations. “Our cadet program is for 6 to 9-year-olds. They are the biggest population. They were stuck in one classroom,” he said. With more space, they can now serve more children. Kips Bay Executive Director Daniel Quintero said that before the renovation, they served about 350 to 400 children daily, but now they can serve an additional 100.

“Our goal is always to keep our youngsters through the age of 18, so the more youngsters we can serve at an early age, the more we can impact them through the age of 18,” he said. He explained that the kids are enjoying upgraded amenities, including a new digital learning lab with a 3D printer, a performing arts center, and a culinary arts kitchen. Also, the connected layout makes it easy for students to move from room to room within the clubhouse, enhancing efficiency and security, he said.

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11-year-old Joshua has been going to the flagship location since the pandemic, and said he liked the changes. “I think they’re nice because a lot of the older rooms had this brick, and it was like a weird vibe,” he said. “But now the paint looks nice, and it fits all the rooms. Also, there were chairs that looked really nice, and all the tables were set up nicely.”

The $7.5 million renovation was funded by public and private donations, including support from public officials like State Senator Nathalia Fernandez and Assemblymember Emérita Torres.

Assemblymember Torres shared that the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club was influential for her as a child. “My mother took me there when I was a young girl, and I also did my summer youth employment opportunity — my first ever — at this club,” she said. “So it is such a special part of my life, and to see the renovations — it’s so bright and beautiful.” She said that before she held office and while in office, she pushed for the renovation, believing the clubhouse to be essential to youth development. “It just offers so many opportunities for young people, and it’s exactly what we need in the Bronx to fight poverty, to fight inequity, and to make sure that young people have access to all the opportunities they deserve.”

Rodriguez emphasized a similar message, weighing in on the significance of the location.

“The children need a place, they need a safe haven. This community doesn’t offer too much of that, but Kips Bay does,” he said. “We’re in the middle of several housing projects, so this is like Switzerland. This is a neutral place. This is where they come and get to be children.”

For parents, the renovation is also significant, explained Quintero. “Parents look at this like, wow, not only are my children special, but they [feel] respected, and they feel like [their] family is special — that [they’re] special.”

Memberships are free for young people ages 6 to 18. While the renovation was focused on their largest demographic of 6 to 9-year-olds, the amenities are also available to teenagers. “It’s a simple equation: exposure plus opportunity equals endless possibilities, and that’s what we want to provide these children with,” said Rodriguez.