Nov 28, 2014 3 min read

The Brownson House is looking for a new home.

The nonprofit youth sports center is beginning to search for a location to possibly build a new recreation center with its current facilities on Jefferson Avenue in Washington well past their useful lives.

Dan Petrola, executive director of the Brownson House, said the board was discussing potential locations in Washington for the past few months, though plans to build a new center are still in the preliminary stages.

He said it’s too early to make an official announcement about what the facility will include or estimate what the project might cost.

“We’re feeling it out to see if we can get a site,” Petrola said. “Everything is currently up in the air. Nothing is definite.”

The two-story, red-brick building is more than 100 years old and no longer conducive to holding many of today’s popular youth activities, Petrola said. He added the gymnasium in the metal hanger next door is at least 50 years old and deteriorating.

“We can’t really run programs in there,” Petrola said. “We need gymnasium space to further our activities.”

Those facilities hold basketball games, co-ed soccer matches and boxing classes. The organization serves about 2,500 kids a year, along with various other adult programs, Petrola said.

The Vernon C. Neal Sportsplex at Washington Park, which caters to indoor soccer, flag football, roller hockey and volleyball, opened a decade ago and is operated by the Brownson House. Petrola said they’re discussing with some city officials whether the organization could build the new facility for other activities near there in the park.

But there were disagreements among city officials on whether the park is a viable option.

Councilman Terry Faust, who heads the city’s parks and recreation department, has concerns about placing a new facility in the park and how it would impact the outdoor recreation options and its scenic character. He lauded the idea to build a new facility, but said he would prefer it to be located elsewhere in the city on a private property that’s not currently being used.

Mayor Brenda Davis disagreed and thought the park would be a good location.

“Historically, pristine parks and playgrounds are what people take into consideration when moving into a municipality,” Davis said.

City Council and the mayor would have to vote to allow Brownson House to move its facility onto any city property. No vote or discussion on that subject is scheduled.