STEUBENVILLE — An “absolute blessing” is coming to the Sycamore Youth Center, and perhaps no one is more excited than its executive director, Bobbyjon Bauman.

Bauman, board members of the Ohio Valley Youth Network and city officials Thursday afternoon broke ground for an educational pavilion and play area.

Bauman said he hopes to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony around mid-October, as the contractors are prepared to “hit the ground running” and begin construction.

Bauman began requesting grant money toward the project in 2019. Six years later, that dream is coming to fruition.

He noted the $475,000 project is being paid for through a state grant that covers 80 percent of the cost, while the Sycamore Youth Center covered the remaining $125,000.

Bauman thanked those who helped raise the money necessary to proceed, including the Charles M. and Thelma M. Pugliese Charitable Foundation, the Kiwanis Club of Steubenville and PNC Bank.

The outdoor development has been designed to provide a safe, structured space for recreation and hands-on educational activities for Ohio Valley students in grades kindergarten through 12th.

The pavilion will be used for outdoor Bible lessons, STEM enrichment classes, mentoring groups and various youth events. The play area will be open for supervised, free play during camp hours and as part of the center’s after-school activities.

“This new educational pavilion and play area will serve as an outdoor classroom and a place of joy and recreation for hundreds of local youth,” Bauman said. “We’re excited to offer even more opportunities for learning, physical activity and community connection.”

Picnic tables will be erected under the pavilion area and outside classes will be held, Bauman noted. The playground area will include a basketball hoop and soft, sturdy turf to play on. Steps will be added to make for quicker access to the area through the side door.

This expansion will enhance Sycamore’s programming, which serves more than 500 students each week through after-school and summer offerings. All of Sycamore’s offerings are free for city students.

Board member Cookie West said of the groundbreaking, “This is an absolute blessing. This is an investment for families in general, as this playground and pavilion space will foster dynamics and bring families and people of the community together.”

West continued, “This is not just a Sycamore thing, it is a community thing. We are invested in this playground and celebrate diversity in every aspect of it. People of diverse backgrounds can utilize the pavilion and bring back a space to unite families. Families are the core of our community.

West explained the sense of family has become lost in America and Steubenville can become that spark people need to go back to the way it was once before.

Board Vice President James Baber said the center is beneficial for everyone.

“It is a plus for children, because it will offer a safe space for them to be entertained,” Baber said. “It is a plus for downtown Steubenville, and we are excited about it. We are grateful the grant was approved and are pleased that people who say they have nothing to do or nowhere to go can now have that place.”

Bauman noted this has been “a labor of love.”

“There used to be a playground across the street before, but it was unsafe, so it was torn down,” Bauman commented, to which West added, “But in a few short months, we will hear laughter outside again.”

Rebekah Cohen Morris, executive director of the AIM Women’s Center, stated children of the mothers at the nonprofit can utilize this play space now, not having to worry about trying to play outside near traffic.

“Our mom groups are very excited about their children having somewhere to play now,” Morris said. “It will be contained and a safe place where they can relax and know their children are OK.”

Community leaders joined representatives of the Ohio Valley Youth Network, which oversees the Sycamore Youth Center, for the groundbreaking ceremony.

Among those in attendance were Steubenville Mayor Jerry Barilla; Jefferson County Commissioner Eric Timmons; Kiwanis Club Treasurer Tom Timmons; Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Emily Byers; Morris and members of the Ohio Valley Youth Network Board, including, Bauman, president; Baber; directors Scott Hahn, Mike Simon, Mike Florak and West; and Rob Corzine, secretary/treasurer.

Community supporters in attendance included Marci Snyder-Crawford, executive director of the United Way of Jefferson County; Kimberly Hahn, a trustee on the St. Paul Center’s board and wife of Scott Hahn; and Bauman’s daughter and grandchildren, who drove in from Pennsylvania.

“We are all just thrilled and blessed to be moving forward,” West concluded.