BEVERLY – Mike McPherson looked across the building and his eyes lit up.
“This is absolutely amazing,” he said. “The size of it. There’s just so much here, and it’s great. It’s so much better than what we had before.”
The “it” is Beverly’s brand-new Myles J. McPherson Youth Center, which, after two years of construction, was unveiled with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with city officials and about 100 residents Monday evening.
The 4,500-square-foot building is named after Mike’s older brother, Myles, who, back in 1966, pushed for the city to build its first youth center before passing away two years later after losing his battle with leukemia.
“I think Myles would be a little embarrassed with all of this, but he would be proud for sure,” Mike said.
Myles graduated from Beverly High in 1966. He was the class president for four years and captain of the football team, where he played offensive guard and linebacker despite standing just 5-foot-6 and weighing 165 pounds.
Before he graduated, he and his friends approached the city about building a youth center. The city obliged by constructing the first one at Lynch Park, but shortly after, it burnt down. A second one was built near the Briscoe School.
Then, in 1975, the city decided to build a better facility, at the current location of 4 McPherson Drive at Innocenti Park.
“That was when Jimmy Vitale was the (Beverly) mayor,” Mike McPherson said. “It was small and probably half the size of this (new one). The reason why it was half was that Vitale said, ‘Let’s build this because it’s all we can afford, and when we get more money, we’ll put an addition on’, but they never had any money.”
That youth center stood until it was torn down two years ago, after the city approved the new project, which received $6.2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds and a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Mayor Michael Cahill, speaking before the ribbon cutting, credited state Sen. Joan Lovely, former state Rep. Jerry Parisella, and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton with major roles in securing the funds.
He also listed off many others who deserve credit, including past and current Beverly city councilors who approved the project, the Youth Collaborative Board, city building committees, state authorities, the project design and construction firms, and the Greater Beverly YMCA and Executive Director Tim Flaherty.
“Our Beverly YMCA has always come to the table when there’s a problem or challenge the community needs addressed,” Cahill said. “The Beverly YMCA is one of the best that you’ll ever find. We have had a partnership with the YMCA, and they do the programming.
“We have a fantastic building, and we are grateful for that. We are grateful for all the people who made it possible.”
The new center officially opened in May and has been a big hit.
Inside, it features pool tables, air hockey, ping-pong, computer labs, video games, TVs, a half-sized basketball court, a lounge area, a small concession stand stocked with snacks, and restrooms. Outside, there’s a full basketball court and a skateboard area.
The center offers various fitness and arts-and-crafts programs, pop-up and food events, and a summer basketball league with four co-ed age groups.
The center is available to any youth aged 11 to 18. It’s open Monday through Friday 3-8 p.m., and Saturdays from 3-9 p.m. There are no sign-ups or costs; however, there are fees for the summer basketball leagues and field trips, including a trip to Canobie Lake Park on Thursday and, in early September, a Boston Red Sox game.
The youth center is owned by the city and is part of the larger Beverly Youth Collaboration, a partnership between the city of Beverly, the YMCA, and the Beverly Recreation and School Departments.
The youth center programs are organized by the YMCA, led by Flaherty, and employ five people, including Director Jimmy Carroll and Program Director Sarah Barth.
“This place is wonderful,” Barth said with a smile. “I wish I had this when I was a teen. Everybody from the city was so great to get this project done. They have all been super helpful, and since we opened about three months ago, the teens have absolutely loved it.
“It’s perfect. I can’t even say enough good things about this place. Kids need to know that this place exists,” she said. “We have video games, programming, field trips, arts and crafts, skateboarding, basketball, and just everything that a teen could want. It’s a safe place in the community for the kids to come and hang out.”
“The opportunity for the kids to have this is so great — it’s free, it’s on the water, and all the programming (makes it so special). It’s just amazing what the city has been able to do,” Barth added.
The center averages 30-40 kids per day, and the biggest draws have been the skateboarding ramp and the inside and outside basketball courts.
“I use the indoor basketball court a lot. I love the net, how it’s built, and I just love the half-court,” said soon-to-be 12-year-old Wiley Paddol.
And all of it began 60 years ago thanks to a teenager named Myles McPherson.
“Myles was just a great, great guy,” said his brother, who noted that two months before Myles was diagnosed with leukemia, he lost another brother, Mark, who was struck and killed by an automobile three months after returning home from the Vietnam War.
“Myles’ idea for the youth center took root, and here we are, 60 years later, with a beautiful facility. Myles had this magnetic personality. He was easy-going, funny, and he was the kind of guy that drew people to him. He was just a guy who was the center of fun, but humble at the same time. He was really a giving guy.”
Added Flaherty: “Sixty years ago, Myles had a vision of starting the youth center. He was an amazing man, and his legacy still stands today.”