The Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) identified five potential city-owned or state-owned sites in Dorchester where a potential stand-alone community center could one day be located.

On Monday night, the BCYF hosted its third meeting in a series that began last fall and discussed five locations where they had “test fit” a stand-alone center using the programming priorities identified so far by residents.

“This is a test and only a test,” said consultant Brett Bentson. “It’s not a design or proposal. At this point, we’re just moving around Lego blocks to see what fits together with five city- and state-owned lots.”

The sites identified included:

•Frederick Middle School/Brunswick Playground (Normandy Street entrance).

•40-48 Geneva Ave. across from Burke High School.

•Doherty Gibson Park/Town Field.

•Victory Road Park.

•Devine Rink parking lot.

Two sites that were eliminated from consideration were Toohig Park, off Gallivan Boulevard, due to it being surrounded by residential homes, and Ronan Park, near Fields Corner as the potential site was too steep.

“Our goal is not to pick sites or to identify one site to proceed with,” said Alistair Lucks of the Public Facilities Department (PFD). “We hope to present a clear pro and con of each site. We hope to conclude our study (in May) with a number of sites that have clear advantages and a clear idea of what the challenges will be on each of them.”

PFD’s Kerrie Griffin said some of the pros for any site would be being near a T Station, providing access to multiple neighborhoods, close to an existing athletic field, and not in a heavily residential area. The ideal site for the programming needs would be a minimum of about 46,000 sq. ft., Bentson said. Demographic data around a site, and existing facilities near a site would also be considered.

The benefit of the Frederick site was that it could be nestled into an existing hill, as well as co-locate with the newly built playground next door. The lot was also about the ideal size, with an easy entrance onto Normandy Street. 

For quite some time, the Geneva Avenue site has been talked about as the best location, and the lot size is just about correct at 43,000 sq. ft. The center would have to be built curb to curb, but its proximity to the Burke High School, the Grove Hall library and a senior center were positives.

The Town Field proposal was lauded for having about 60,000 sq. ft., which allowed a more spread-out location on the existing basketball courts and part of the Park League baseball field. The entrance would be facing Dorchester Avenue and would work in tandem with the existing ADSL building and a newly refurbished playground space. It was also noted that it is the most centrally located facility.

The Victory Road site would include about 115,000 sq. ft. of space and would be on the existing basketball courts and one baseball field would have to shift to the south.

The final proposed site was on a portion of the parking lot at Devine Ice Rink, with a new parking location established on the north side of the rink to replace parking lost due to the center. The 36,000 sq. ft. lot would mean a taller building built on piers to accommodate expected sea level rise. As opposed to a sprawling location at Town Field, the Devine site would be more of a denser and taller option.

Mike Joyce, a member of the community advisory committee, asked about what would happen to the existing BCYF Centers that are mostly in schools now. Interim BCYF Director Marta Rivera said it was too early to make that decision. But BCYF Facilities Manager Pat McDonough said getting stand-alone centers allows for more flexibility in programming, as they are limited in what they can do when school is in session.

“It’s the difference of about 40 hours a week or 70 to 80 hours a week of programming,” he said. 

Lucks concluded by saying the plan is still to try to build multiple stand-alone community centers in Dorchester.

“We’re trying to identify enough sites so multiple centers could be build,” he said. “We’re not focusing on a particular number but want to identify many sites and then it will be up to a later decision as to how many are built and where.”

The next meeting for the stand-alone community center effort will be in late March or April. The final study report is expected in May. It could take up to four years before any new community center is open to the public.