Boston YMHA Hecht House

              T
REPORT of thn FACILITIES SU-a-COiaiTTI- of the YOUTH ACTIVITIES CC
1951- ^2
it since the Health Club vacated ita quarters  or. the second  floor,  the Y
-tended to rehabilitate that part of the building.    In outlining the
Y program for the United Jewish Fund,  this project Was mentioned, and at one tine,
■.sy was oven earmarked for t: is purpose.    In the absence of concrete
proposals fcr the remodaling,  however, the funds were allocated to other, more
urgent project..    Only one room was put to a specific use—the game room—and it has
proved to Oe popular v.-ith youngsters, teen-agers, and adults
Ir the past season, the Youth Activities Comr.ittee has undertaken a Saturday
and aftor-school program in those rooms, v.-ith th. reclaiming . tho
yung people whose interest in the Y has been declining in recent years.    «fe are
convinced that tha Y has much to offer these young pteple, in spite of the growth
of neighbor]* rd centers and changes in populati-n; and we believe that their support as adult nenbers of a few years honco,  is vital to the I,    Their renewed
onthusirt;: that cf their parents,  seems to boar out    ur convict)
In proposing a plan for rerr.deling the second floor,  h:"wevcr, we hove triad
to foresee -     f other possibilities fer its use by o, :ps in th
We bollovo that children, teen-agars, and ycung adults should heve.a plac. tl
is th:ir own when thoy visit the building; but ve r iccgnizo the fact that their
visits are  limited by schol hoars ond that th    r    ma sh-uld be attractive fcr
and at all tir.es.    Y.'e also realize that    ur WTk .ith young poopla is still
ntal, thet it r.ust grow gradually and in pr portion to the orgardzati
nd staff we are able to provide.    Thorcf      . tried "
La flsxiblo, -mlti-purpose ar.d oxpendablo—a plan y;e hope will open up
new facilities and activitios f^r all Y members and bo usoful to the X for rany
.
In brief, the  plan is as folic—si
All ro.-tb  - rewired one recoive acoustical treatment—a basic requirement
E r th.-ir use by anyone.    All r(  ns to open int~  * -— . ■    -sic
v i 1 intorrupti n in meetings and  "closing . f f"    ne sect'
■ is in uso.    Thes \ o,  plus ir.provod flooring where needed,
nly structur-.l a It ora ti
1. Dance Studio—tho largo room on the  iiollefield Street side would have
simple,  built-in bonches alcng tha vdndow side, a stage pi t the end of the
,  storage cl sets beside the stage that c ,uld bo usod as dressing r      .;.    Pur-
81    dances, footings, where movies are tr  bo shewn    r snail,  informal enter-
'mcing classes,  ;tc.
2. Lcun;%—the space fr a the Bellefield c rnor on the side toward Fifth
:k to the present ga. . would  be a largo lounge.    Th.  fr r.t
record player,  simple furnishings, including
built-in v.  11 bonches-and  shelves.    The smaller section,  t    tho rear, would be
closed  -ff by a  folding wall partiti n and would c^nt-.ir. e  unit-kitchen.    Rirpss    :
oither r   -    r Vth could be usod in c njunct?   n with dances    r    ther functi ns  in
tho dance studio j oither rr both c~uld bo used f r meetings,  card  parties,  c oking
der"~nstroti. ns,  etc,
3. Gore R     —- - chf.nge proposed v, uld be f~r buil1>-in well benches
ond shelves s    that  furniture w uld n t ints.rO rig tabl    :
Ives f r table genes and equipment.
4. Cr"fts Vorkshop—tho fomer shower "nd steam r        behind the new elevat r
would be used  f r arts and crofts irtd would include a small ; sh^p.
This kind    f •.   rkshop, which his j_"ved p^pulor v.-ith adults in many agencies, would
be used                 ,:hing during the Saturday Pr                          uld be arrnr. that
11 t:   Is  c- uld bo covered when nperati n vras not desired.
$,     Ehthr- or.s—tw    bathrocrs have been proposed to acconriodato what wo bolieve
•.•ill be an increased number of people making uso    f this part ~f the building.