First MAPS 4 Youth Center Approved For Southwest Oklahoma City
- mike33692
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
First MAPS 4 Youth Center Approved For Southwest Oklahoma City
Construction is set to begin this fall on the first MAPS 4 Youth Center after the Oklahoma City Council approved final plans for a new $18.7 million facility at Woodson Park in southwest Oklahoma City.
The new center will serve children and families through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County, offering year-round educational, recreational and workforce development programs. City leaders say the project represents a major investment in neighborhoods while creating a safe place where young people can learn, build relationships and prepare for the future.
First MAPS 4 Youth Center Will Serve Southwest Oklahoma City
The new 48,370-square-foot facility will be built at 3403 S. May Ave. inside Woodson Park and will be operated by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County.
The project includes $13.7 million in MAPS 4 funding and $5 million from the OKC 2025 Bond Program, bringing the total investment to $18.7 million.
According to MAPS Program Manager David Todd, every part of the building was designed to support the needs of nearby families while providing children and teenagers with opportunities to learn, socialize and grow outside of the traditional classroom.
Designed by Bockus Payne Associates, the facility will feature a welcoming lobby, a gymnasium with two basketball courts, classrooms, learning centers, youth lounges, teaching kitchens, a commercial kitchen and dining hall, performing arts studios and flexible spaces that can be used for workforce development programs and community events.
Construction is expected to begin this fall.
New Center Expands Opportunities For Oklahoma City Youth
For more than 30 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County has provided after-school and summer programs focused on academics, leadership, health, wellness and career readiness.
President and CEO Teena Belcik said opening the first MAPS 4 Youth Center marks an exciting milestone for both the organization and Oklahoma City families.
She said the center will continue the organization's mission of providing young people with a safe place to build confidence, develop life skills and discover new opportunities while creating stronger neighborhoods throughout the community.
City leaders say the centers are designed to serve children of all ages, while also providing intervention programs and additional support for youth who need it most. By combining education, recreation and workforce development under one roof, officials hope the facilities become year-round gathering places for families across Oklahoma City.
Three More MAPS 4 Youth Centers Are Planned
The Woodson Park project is the first of four youth centers included in the MAPS 4 program.
Future centers are planned near 6440 S. Santa Fe Ave., the Northeast Boys & Girls Club at 1501 NE 36th Street, and Melrose Park at 7800 Melrose Lane, allowing programs to reach children in multiple areas of the city.
Overall, MAPS 4 dedicates $118 million toward building the youth centers, including $30 million for future operations and maintenance and $10 million for long-term capital improvements.
Approved by Oklahoma City voters in 2019, MAPS 4 is a debt-free public improvement program funded by a temporary one-cent sales tax that is projected to generate approximately $1.07 billion through 2028. More than 70% of the program's funding is dedicated to neighborhood improvements and human needs projects, with youth centers serving as one of its largest investments in Oklahoma City's future.
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