Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County (BGCGTC) is planning to establish a new Club in Denton County — expanding its reach and impact by bringing services to the largest county in the nation without a permanent Boys & Girls Club presence.

This expansion opportunity is being made possible by a partnership with the City of Lewisville, which is donating a former fire station building at 195 W. Corporate Drive. This building will serve as the first permanent Boys & Girls Clubs branch in Denton County.

Establishing a permanent branch will allow BGCGTC to offer low-cost after-school and summer programming, workforce development, life-skill building, and other critical resources for kids and teens in Denton County. According to 2023 U.S. Census Data, 5.9 percent of Denton County youth were living at or below the federal poverty level. Feeding America’s “Map the Meal Gap” report estimates that 15.7 percent experienced food insecurity.

In the 11 school districts that serve Denton County, 40.5 percent of the students are considered at-risk across those districts. A subsequent 2021 BGCGTC Growth Task Force study concluded that Denton County had the greatest need for youth development services of any neighboring community.

“We recognize the tremendous need in Denton County and have been serving youth through mobile and school-based services for two years," said Daphne Barlow Stigliano, BGCGTC CEO and president. “This generous donation will allow us to put down long-term roots and deepen our impact so that we can create meaningful change for the young people in that community.”

Since 2021, BGCGTC has invested more than $705,000 in Denton County operations.

Lewisville City Manager Claire Powell said the former fire station offers a perfect location to expand those services. The building is located within several miles of Lewisville High School, less than a mile from three elementary schools and one middle school, and within a mile of several large single and multi-family developments.

“We have seen the impact that Boys & Girls Clubs can have on our youth and know we need to do everything we can to continue supporting this important resource in our community,” Powell said. “By donating this building, the city can help bring needed childcare and other critical services to local families.”

The former fire station will offer BGCGTC an 8,000-square-foot building, a fenced area, green space for a playground, and sufficient space to accommodate a 5,000-square-foot building expansion. A 25-foot ceiling can accommodate a gym for various athletic and recreational activities.

To support the growing Boys & Girls Clubs operations through 2026, Denton County has committed $3 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

“I am grateful to the City of Lewisville and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County for their efforts in bringing this project to fruition,” said Denton County Precinct 3 Commissioner Bobbie J. Mitchell.

“Creating a full-service club for boys and girls in Denton County will serve an important need, particularly at the location on Corporate Drive. It is important to me and to my colleagues on the Denton County Commissioners Court to invest in our young people to help them become tomorrow’s leaders.”

Barlow Stigliano said total costs for the project are estimated to be $4-$5 million. With additional funding and support, she anticipates that adding the new facility could allow BGCGTC to serve more than 6,000 youth per year by 2026.

City officials are finalizing legal documents needed to complete the property transfer, with a closing date to be set later this summer. The City and Boys & Girls Club of Greater Tarrant County will work together to prepare the property for its planned future use.