Boston Police and a South Bay fitness center have joined forces to give local kids and teens access to a safe workout space. The physical fitness program with Backyahd Boston gym is the brainchild of Area C-11 Community Service Officer (CSO) Tommy Porter, who knew the owners and pitched the idea of getting kids into the upscale gym for structured workouts. Earlier this year, they began the one-hour Tuesday workouts using professional trainers.

Though it started slowly during the winter, things picked up in the spring and summer – about 30 to 40 kids and mentors worked out at last Tuesday’s session.

“I really enjoy working out and I was trying to get an activity going for the kids in the neighborhood to do,” Porter said as he trained with the kids. “This is something that promotes a healthy lifestyle and is in a very nice gym that others have to pay a lot to join. They get professional instruction and a really good workout and, hopefully, that lifestyle and the camaraderie we’re building here translates outside the gym to the real world.”

Joining him in the program are other community service officers Derek Green of B-3, Manny D’Ambreville from B-2, and Ayesha Lawton of C-6. Working with the community leaders, they bring in young people from programs at Ronan Park, Fields Corner, Mattapan, and Old Colony in South Boston to the once-a-week gym sessions.

Backyahd Boston co-owner Rob Velasquez shows Old Colony’s Jayla Vieira the proper technique on a squat exercise.

Backyahd co-owner Laura Witkowski and Lauren Rich instruct young people and police officers on how to properly perform certain exercises. Instruction is a hallmark of the program.

Councillor Erin Murphy dropped by last Tuesday and said it was great to see so many young people focused on working out in a structured way. “I really like they are at a high-quality facility and they’re learning how to work out and getting instruction and guidance,” she said. “It’s not just you go in the gym and there are weights and barbells…They’re also here with other kids from other parts of the city and they challenge each other. You can even see them cheering each other on, and that’s kids from different groups and different high schools.”

Backyahd Boston owners Robert Velasquez, Lauren Rich, and Laura Witkowski – they’ve been in business in South Bay for almost three years– said they are happy to partner with Boston Police and the young people.

“Our mission in this business is building community,” said Velasquez. “The three of us wanted to start a gym that welcomes in the community, and this is a great part of that mission.”

Witkowski said they are happy to be helping young people get to the gym, especially at a time when the public often associates South Bay with bad teen behavior. That is not the full story, she said.

“The neighborhood here can get a bad reputation regarding the kids here, but anything that happens is because they’re bored,” she said. “There isn’t much that supports them with doing things they want to do. This is one hour of the week they know they can get a really good workout, and burn off some energy.”

Young people interested in the workout sessions can contact the community service offices at Districts C-11, B-3, or C6.