Auburn- New PAL Community Center

Auburn moves one more step closer to new PAL Community Center

AUBURN – More than 10 years ago, the Auburn Police Department looked at crime data and found that a significant percentage of crimes committed by youth offenders, crimes against youth, and police calls for service in Auburn took place within an area of less than half a square mile. In an effort to transform these statistics and provide positive, horizon-broadening experiences for at-risk youth, the Auburn Police Department established the Auburn Police Activities League (PAL). In the spring of 2013, the Auburn PAL Center opened at 24 Chestnut Street.

Since its launch, the PAL Center has provided healthy meals and educational and athletic activities for kids after school and during the summer months, not to mention positive interaction with police officers and other trusted adults. The Center currently serves an average of 30 to 50 kids each day, providing snacks and/or meals, programming, and a safe place to spend time.

The city’s “Grab & Go” grocery program, which began during the pandemic, is also based at the PAL Center, providing groceries for approximately 250 Auburn households each week. A successful youth mentorship program also takes place at PAL. It matches community volunteers with at-risk youth to introduce them to meaningful life skills and supportive adults in a welcoming, safe location.

“The Auburn PAL Center has been very successful and has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on the neighborhood,” said City Manager Phil Crowell. “But the need for an enhanced, For immediate release, continued Page 2 of 2 expanded facility has become apparent.” To that end, city leaders and the PAL Board of Directors have secured most of the funding to build an incredible new PAL Community Center.

Costs for the new Center are estimated at around $9 million. The city has allocated $3 million from its share of the American Rescue Plan Act toward the project, which has been matched by a federal spending plan secured by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. The previous city council approved $1.5 million in bonds and also allocated the final $1.5 million from the city’s undesignated fund balance. The PAL Board of Directors hopes to partner with local sponsors to raise additional funding for equipment, furniture, supplies and programming.

The PAL Community Center proposal includes the demolition of the existing PAL Center – which is less than 3,000 sq. ft. – and replace it with a 14,651 sq. ft. single-story facility with a basketball court, teen room, multipurpose, meeting, and storage rooms, bathrooms and showers, and a commercial kitchen. Planned site work will also include utility improvements, transportation, and pedestrian improvements along Chestnut Street (which will be closed to traffic), a playground, parking lot, and community gardens.

At a meeting of the Auburn Planning Board on Tuesday evening, the plans to replace the existing PAL Center were unanimously approved.

“This new PAL Center will be a transformative place for our community, increasing our positive impact on kids and families,” added Crowell. “This will be a true community center, with something for everyone at every age.”

With groundbreaking planned for May of this year, PAL programming will temporarily relocate to the Auburn Recreation Department in April.

The city hopes to open the new Auburn PAL Community Center in August 2025.