DeKalb County

Neighbors upset Boys and Girls Club takes over recreation center

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Neighbors in DeKalb County are frustrated because they say a Boys and Girls Club is using a recreation center for free, and stopping their kids from using the facility.

The East DeKalb Boys and Girls Club operates out of the Redan Recreation Center in Lithonia from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every weekday.

Neighborhood kids are allowed inside from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Boys and Girls Club made a deal with the county to move into the facility rent-free in October 2015.

“If this community comes up here during the day, come up here and see what East DeKalb Boys and Girls Club is doing for this community. They would be very proud,” Cherlyn Stegall said.

Neighbors said they feel like their recreation center has been taken away from them.

“I feel that the public should be aware that this is a government building and this building was built for the community and the youth in the community cannot go until 7,” Glenda Jordan said.

Jordan said 7 to 9 pm is too late in the day for children to use the center. %

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Sandra Edwards used to take Zumba classes at the center.

“It’s been taken away from us quietly,” she said. “The Boys and Girls Club is a business of its own and they have no business in our county facility.”

The county says the programs are at no cost to taxpayers.

“We’re still paying the lights, the gas, the water and all of that, and even have some employees in there,” Jordan said.

DeKalb County said the arrangement allows them to avoid the cost of running an after school program.

The contract will be up for review next year.