MALVERN, PA — The Great Valley community celebrated a significant milestone on Wednesday with the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new GVCO Community Center. Located at 51 N Bacton Hill Rd, the 16,000 square foot facility promises to be an inclusive community hub for the nonprofit’s 5,500 member base and residents in East Whiteland Township, Charlestown Township, Willistown, Malvern Borough, and beyond.
The state-of-the-art complex is the realization of a dream that has been 15 years in the making, according to Tom Curran, founder of GVCO. “This center is aimed to foster personal growth, intergenerational connections, and inclusivity, all while meeting the community’s needs,” said Curran. “Today we open the doors to a bright future ahead.”
The multipurpose community center represents the first phase of a multi-phase development plan. The facility includes indoor basketball and multiple-purpose courts for a variety of sports and events, as well as a community meeting area.
The GVCO Community Center offers a diverse range of programs designed to engage, educate, and enrich lives. These include youth and adult sports, senior activities, and the Challenger Gym, an adaptive recreational gym program for children with special needs. The Chester County Seeing Eye Puppy Club, the newest addition to GVCO’s programming, now has a permanent home for its training sessions.
State Senator Carolyn Comitta commended the project, saying, “Every community deserves a cherished space where neighbors can come together and residents of all ages and abilities can gather, play, and build skills that last a lifetime.” She expressed pride in securing funding for the center, where generations of Great Valley families can learn, grow, and create lifelong memories.
The GVCO Community Center also hosts GVCO Caring Hands, a volunteer program for middle and high school students. The center employs 10-15 high school and college interns annually to assist with program administration.
The GVCO project has raised over $4 million to date, including a $1.3 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant and more than $3 million from individual and business donations. The RACP grant is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for regional improvement projects.
Future phases of the community center development are set to include additional indoor athletic courts, a cafe, an elevated track, a fitness area, multi-purpose rooms, outdoor basketball courts, a turf field, and outdoor seating. The timeline for these expansions will depend on the success of ongoing fundraising efforts.
With its doors now open, the GVCO Community Center stands as a testament to the power of community collaboration and shared vision, poised to serve Malvern residents for generations to come.
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