Flint, Michigan – The Haskell Community Center is getting a makeover, and the City of Flint is getting ready to move on from a historic landmark. For more than a hundred years, people have met in this structure. Now, it is set to become the official home of the Police Athletic League (PAL).
A press conference earlier this month revealed that the new facility remains to be the main place for youth development and community involvement on Flint’s west side. Along with the reopening, Glen Kelly Field, a new space for football, soccer, and lacrosse, will open.
The field is named after Glenn Kelly, a respected teacher and coach who cared deeply about young people and changed the lives of many Flint players. Kelly is renowned not only for being a mentor, but also for helping NFL champions Mark Ingram Sr. and Andre Rison get their careers off to a good start.
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City officials said the initiative was more than just fixing up the buildings. Mayor Sheldon Neeley stressed its deeper importance, saying it gave neighborhoods who have long relied on the center as a communal pillar “renewed hope, opportunity, and connection.” The Haskell Community Center will once again be a location for families to have fun, learn, and get involved in activities that help them grow and provide young people new chances.
On Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 1 p.m., there will be a grand opening and dedication ceremony for the newly restored site. Everyone in the community, including residents, families, and partners, is welcome to come to the event, which will have food, activities for families, and links to local groups.
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For Flint, the reopening means both staying the same and starting over. The Haskell Community Center has a lengthy history, but its current position and facilities reflect that it cares about the future. City authorities want to make sure that this historic building continues to inspire pride and prosperity in the community by recognizing Glenn Kelly’s life and investing in local youngsters.