New teen center aims to help kids in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — In 2022, when OzarksFirst interviewed Brady Harris, the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield, that's when she first mentioned their plans to build a center, just for teens, focused on setting them up for success and keeping them out of trouble.

Today, in 2025, that dream is now realized.

Harris and Co. held a grand opening for the Risdal Family Teen Center, a space for kids growing up to help them grow up.

"It looks incredible. We're so excited to tour it today. I did not expect it to be this big," Savannah Phelps said.

Phelps toured the space with her step-son Daegan, who is going to become a teenager soon, but in 'the club'.

"I'm pretty excited because I know I'll be able to do my homework and probably study here. SI won't be like sitting at home and doing my work around a bunch of people," Daegan said. "I won't be around a bunch of tiny children that will be screaming their heads off.

Phelps says for family, the location on West Catalpa isn't just convenient, but a place she trusts her step-son to be at after school.

"This is a game changer. We were getting kind of nervous about what options we would have specifically because he goes to the scholarship program at Central. It's not really like located in a good spot for us. This is on our way home. It becomes life changing when it's something that you have to incorporate into your everyday routine, so this has really been a real blessing for our family, for sure," Phelps said. "I would like to thank the donors because of them, it's possible for us to get them enrolled this year for no cost at all. We're just really excited to have him attend this year and give them access to all the resources that the center has."

The center has a litany of new resources for teens, like a full kitchen for cooking lessons, a barbershop for free haircuts, a dance studio, a podcast room, an E-Sports lounge, multiple study areas, a basketball court and more.

CEO Brandy Harris spoke to the hundreds in attendance about the conversations she's had with teens, specifically when the teens ask about the price of all the extra amenities.

"I get to look at 14-year-olds who are automatically thinking of barriers that exist for them to access this, and I get to say cost you $0. The reason I get to say that is because of you, and we've made so many promises to these kids, promises that we probably should have fulfilled decades ago," Harris told the crowd.

In the crowd is Hunter Johnson.

He's an older teen, and says this center is something long overdue.

"I really like the space. I think it gives a good area for all teens to come together and definitely, like, share ideas. Their ideas and their different personalities so they can come together and just be one big family," Johnson said. "I think it's been long overdue."

Johnson has a favorite spot.

"I think my favorite part has to be definitely the teaching kitchen. I love culinary and cooking and the fact that they're opening up to different kids and different teens that are going to be here and let them be able to come in there and cook for the rest of the teens themselves and to learn how to cook so they can go to succeed," Johnson said. "It also opens that pathway out there in their future that if they were to want to be a chef, they can. They have that ability and that knowledge."

Alexis Wolfe says she's made a lot of friends in her time as a club member, and she's most excited for the art rooms.

"It's really important to me. Because at home I have two little brothers, and so to come here and to have a space where I can share with my friends and my family, it's really a big deal in my life," Wolfe said. "I have made so many relationships that I've kept to this day, it's just a very important thing in my life."

Club alumnus Bailey Cornett says he's happy to see the new center, and understands the role the program played in his life.

"It's very important. My mom personally, she worked so hard, everyday to 5:30 and it was easiest to go to the club, it gave me something to do, gave me activities to do," Cornett said. "It kept me out of trouble, kept a lot of kids out of trouble, it feels like."

A formal ribbon-cutting is set for August 18.