Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence expanding ten-fold as it transforms the Wanskuck Clubhouse

Renovations and upgrades will enable organization to expand access at its flagship site by nearly ten times, reaching more children, teens, and families

The oldest and largest Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence (BGCP) clubhouse is getting a significant makeover. On Friday, September 5, the organization broke ground on an ambitious $10.9 million effort that will transform its Wanskuck Clubhouse on Branch Avenue. The sweeping renovations will allow the organization to increase usage of the site nearly tenfold, reaching more children, teens, and families. Construction begins this month and the clubhouse is expected to reopen in spring 2027 following the completion of phase one projects.

The effort is funded by a $2 million federal earmark secured by Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and a capital campaign led by longtime supporters Lisa Bisaccia and Robert P. Naparstek, MD. The campaign is the largest fundraising effort in the 150+ year history of BGCP, which is the longest continuously operating Boys & Girls Club in the United States.

“The Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence is a tremendous community resource that has served generations of kids throughout the city and its Wanskuck Clubhouse is a beloved institution in Providence’s North End,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I was proud to team up with Senator Whitehouse to deliver $2 million in federal funding to help revitalize this cherished facility so it can serve more kids now and in the future.”

“The Boys and Girls Clubs of Providence do great work for kids and teens in our capital city,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. “I was glad to secure federal funding with Senator Reed to make the Wanskuck Clubhouse a bigger, brighter space for families to enjoy.

BGCP’s Wanskuck Clubhouse provides childcare to families of seven neighborhood schools and offers a wide range of programs and open-door memberships for children and teens. However, due in large part to its age, the building is underutilized and in need of updates—just one-third of the space is currently used for Club activities. That all will change with projects planned for all three of the building’s floors.

Along with modernizing the building’s infrastructure, phase one projects include a new workforce development innovation center, augmented with virtual reality training capabilities and offering industry certification programs. A new mobile technology lab and study space will be built, and the gymnasium, locker rooms, and food and dining area will be revamped. Other planned projects include a state-of-the-art teen center and Music Lab; a vibrant early education center; and more childcare capacity for working families. The clubhouse’s indoor pool also will be made fully ADA-accessible.

“It is profound to consider the number of children and families whose lives have been impacted by this clubhouse over the past century, and amazing to think about the many more it will reach over the next one-hundred years thanks to what today represents,” said Robert P. Naparstek, MD, campaign co-chair.

Added fellow co-chair, Lisa Bisaccia, “This is all about creating a place that not only supports the needs of our community today, but also helps propel them toward a brighter future. For many Club members, environments like this can change everything—it’s where potential is discovered and new possibilities start to feel real.”

Barbara Papitto, who was among the campaign’s earliest supporters and helped to inspire donations through a personal matching gift challenge, spoke warmly of her own experience. “Growing up, the Wanskuck Boys and Girls Club was my second home. All year round I would swim daily and worked as a lifeguard. I’m glad it will continue to be a place where children can grow and have fun.”

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence works to enable and inspire children and youth, especially those from diverse or difficult circumstances, to reach their full potential as productive, responsible, and healthy members of their community. At more than 150 years old, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence is the oldest continuously operating Boys & Girls Club in the country. They operate 8 sites across Providence. For more, visit www.bgcprov.org.

Photo Credit: Scott Lapham/Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence