The long-awaited re-opening of the renovated Mattahunt community center and pool drew an enthusiastic crowd of neighbors and officials, including Mayor Wu, to the city-owned facility off of Cummins Highway last Thursday (April 25).

“I don’t like how it turned out, I love how it turned out,” said Robert Jenkins, a longtime Mattapan resident who was relieved that a four-year wait for the improved center was over.

“It’s an awesome feeling to see everyone together from the neighborhood and all the energy that brings,” he said. “It’s nice to see the collaboration between Boston Public Schools and BCYF (Boston Centers for Youth and Families).”

Added neighbor Earl Faulk, a member of the Colorado Street Neighborhood Association: “It’s a life and death story. I think they brought what was dead back to life here.”

Faulk recalled moving into the neighborhood in the 1970s when others were fleeing and urban blight was taking hold. “We fought for lights back here and couldn’t get them,” he said. “We have now seen such a transformation. When they opened the Mildred Avenue Community Center, they took everything away from us. They closed this down, and we lost a slew of children, even though the Mildred is on the other side of Blue Hill Avenue. To see it coming back in this way is inspiring.”

As she pointed out the new windows and doors, new locker rooms, a renovated gym, a functioning pool, a renovated multi-purpose room/stage, and a colorful, spacious lobby, the mayor shared that in her first language – Chinese – the characters for ‘home’ and ‘family’ are interchangeable. She said she hoped that same ‘home’ and ‘family’ concept will be present at the Mattahunt in the future.

“This has been a home for a very long time already,” she noted.

“It brings every generation together and lets your dreams grow and from what I saw – the new pool, the recording studios, the teen room, and the ‘collaboratorium’ – we are going to see a lot more dreams growing here and a lot more people becoming part of our family,” said Wu.

“I can’t wait to see what our young people and community members of every generation do with this space,” she added, “from the sports in the gym and creative opportunities on the stage and the many important community conversations that will happen here.”

The renovation project, which was started at the height of the pandemic in June 2020, was slowed by supply chain and contract issues.

Ray Heath, Jr., who has been hired to run the center for BCYF, said he planned to kick things off immediately with programming and sports activities.

Mattahunt Staffer Christina Silva greets Pastor Keke Fleurissaint.

Lisa Guscott, assistant director of Public Facilities, with Fatima Ali-Salaam, chair of the Greater Mattapan Neighborhood Council (GMNC).

Mayor Wu greets youngsters from the Mattahunt School at the new community center on Thursday.

Earl Faulk, Erica Butler , Edna Hall, Councillor Enrique Pepen, and Officer Derek Greene.

BCYF Director Marta Rivera.

City Councillor Enrique Pepen.