New Coupeville Boys and Girls Club Provides Expanded Capacity and Enrichment for Kids
The grand opening of the new Club was attended by many local figures
On July 26, 2023, the Coupeville Boys and Girls Club celebrated the grand opening of their brand-new 5200 square foot clubhouse. After 18 years in the old Coupeville Fire Hall, program coordinators have now opened their doors to more local youth, expanding their much-needed after school programs and childcare that benefit the whole community.
State Representatives Dave Paul and Clyde Shavers both voted to allocate around $2 million to build the project. Bill Tsoukalas, Executive Director of the parent organization Boys & Girls Clubs of Snohomish County, said state funding was crucial to opening the new location. Rep. Paul attended the grand opening, where he was joined by Coupeville Mayor Molly Hughes and Captain Eric Hanks, Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island.
Says Tsoukalas, “we’re appreciative that they’ve gone to bat for us to help kids. They’ve lobbied their colleagues and committee members to place our projects on the approval list.”
“First and foremost, this will be a safe place for kids of all ages,” said Bruce Hammett, a long-time supporter of the Coupeville Boys and Girls Club, who also attended the ceremony for the new facility. “We’re installing state-of-the-art technology to allow for structured education in computer learning, cooking, arts and crafts, and everything else that keeps kids’ minds active and builds a social connection with other kids too.”
Hammett noted that further facilities on the property would be added once funding was secured, including a full-size gymnasium capable of all typical indoor sports, as well as a full outdoor sports facility and a meeting room.
The new facility features a lab with microscopes, a 3D printer, and a computer room with 15 brand new computers. “Coupeville has never seen anything like this, anything this grandiose,” said donor and volunteer Carmen McFadyen of the new clubhouse. “Since I moved here more than 50 years ago, I’ve been dreaming about a place like this for teens and elementary school kids.”
The Coupeville Boys and Girls Club is now open Monday to Friday from 6:30am to 6 pm.