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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
New Boys & Girls Clubs open in Wellington Heights as ‘safe spot’ for kids
‘Dreams come true’ as Busse Unit opens, featuring game room, gymnasium, recording studio and more
Jun. 4, 2025 6:48 pm, Updated: Jun. 5, 2025 8:18 am
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CEDAR RAPIDS — Kids will play, learn and grow at the Boys & Girls Club of the Corridor’s newest facility — named the Busse Unit — that opened Wednesday in the Wellington Heights neighborhood in Cedar Rapids.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Corridor is a “safe spot” for students like Deronte Strong, 16, who grew up going to the Club. Although he largely stopped going to the Club in high school, the new facility offers more for teens, and Strong sees himself spending many days there during the summer, he said with excitement.
A game room where kids can play esports — competitive video games — a gymnasium, recording studio, commercial kitchen and teaching kitchen are featured in the 19,000 square foot facility.
“Our new space is a major milestone for the Club and the kids we serve,” said John Tursi, executive director of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Corridor. “The Busse Unit allows us to expand our reach and deepen our impact by providing more opportunities for academic support, healthy lifestyles, and leadership development.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Corridor is a youth development organization for 5- to 18-year-olds with programs to help kids and teens achieve academic success, model good character and citizenship, and live healthy lifestyles.
The Busse Unit — named in recognition of one of the project’s largest donors — is a long-held dream for staff at the Boys & Girls Clubs.
The facility at 1602 Washington Ave. SE in Cedar Rapids replaces neighboring First Congregational United Church of Christ as the Clubs’ meeting spot. The church has been one of the sites for the Boys & Girls Clubs since 2004. It purchased the land adjacent to its building over the last five years with the goal of selling it to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Corridor. The church sold the land to the club for $50,000.
“The Busse staff is very sad because they’re leaving a home. But I gotta tell you, they’re pretty excited about this one,” Tursi said.
For years, the Club “made do with Sunday school classrooms and offices rolling basketballs down hallways that weren’t meant for basketballs,” said Melanie Van Weelden, pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ. “But they made it work, and they made it good, and now, thanks to a lot of faith and a lot of work and a lot of community investment and trust, this space is a reality, and it’s built just for them.”
The Boys & Girls Clubs raised about $11 million for the project from donations and was awarded federal funding under the American Recovery Plan Act from Cedar Rapids and Linn County.
Tursi said in building the facility, they wanted to provide teens a dedicated space that keeps them coming back year after year. It provides a safe haven for an additional 300 youths, doubling the number of kids served.
“These kids now have a safe place to go after school. You’re meeting them where they need to be met,” Tursi said.
Most children are able to attend the club for free. If they do pay, it’s $12 per child for an entire year, Tursi said.
When asked her favorite aspect of the Busse Unit, Lori Ampey, director of programming and outreach for the Boys & Girls Clubs, listed every amenity.
“It shows that dreams can come true at any age,” said Ampey, who has been working with the Club for 26 years.
Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell addressed the kids ahead of the ribbon cutting Wednesday, saying, “This is your place. This is for you to be home, to dream, to do, to be, to learn, to listen. I only hope you will be here many years from now, for generations to come.
Constance Cherry, 14, said the Club is “another family” and a place that “keeps you safe.” It’s a place where she can explore her interests like STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), art, music, cooking or even learn to style hair.
“If you want to be a cook or whatever you want to do after high school, they have those things to get you started,” Cherry said.
For more information about the club or to enroll, visit bgccr.org.
Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com
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