CALLICOON — The long-standing grandstand at the Delaware Youth Center (DYC) is in its final weeks, according to Delaware Youth Center officials Margaret “Peg” Luty, Alex Gardner, and Jackie Peters.

This demolition comes after Delaware Youth Center Manager Jackie Peters received a donation from a community member that will fund the removal of the structure, which is expected to take place by November 28.

“The grandstand is great, it’s part of our town history, it’s part of the Youth Center’s history, but it’s falling apart,” said Board of Directors Chair Alex Gardner. “It’s decrepit. A snowstorm could take it out. We can’t use it, and it’s dangerous. As much as we love it and as much as we wanted to preserve it, we can’t. So we’re going to hire a local guy, and he’s going to come and pull the whole thing down.”

This decision was not an easy one, and preservation of the structure was among the first options considered for the aging stand. Ultimately, it’s a choice that’s been discussed and revisited many times over the years.

Luty stressed that the structure is a “danger” and that the stairs on the sides have been removed to prevent kids from climbing up and getting hurt.

The Youth Center has juggled many potential plans over the years, each one being very expensive. These ranged from a possible renovation at one point to outright demolition. Another obstacle was that the grandstand had been used as storage for supplies, raising the question of where those items would go.

It was only after receiving this donation that Youth Center officials decided storage could be relocated and the structure taken down. Gardner assured that officials wanted to keep the structure but that the ability to save it was long gone, pointing to rotting beams and its unsound condition.

According to Gardner, the boards that make up the grandstand came from a barn that was on the property before the Youth Center, meaning the wood is over a century old.

“Everyone at the Youth Center appreciates that there’s a lot of affection in the community for this structure. But it’s time to let it go. It’s time to say goodbye to it,” stated Gardner.

In terms of preservation, the Youth Center plans to replace the backstop fencing. In doing so, they see an opportunity to memorialize and honor the history of the grandstand.

Luty holds fond memories of the grandstand, recalling a moment when her husband, an umpire, called their son out on the last play of a game.

“He called his son out on the last out of the game, and my son, to this day, claims that it was not a strike,” recalled Luty with a laugh.

Peters has memories of coaching AYSO right at the grandstand when the kids were really young.

Gardner assured that AYSO and the sports games will continue regardless of the grandstand’s removal, emphasizing that they want youth sports and community leagues to continue using the space.

He recalled years past when ice cream was served out of the side of the grandstand.

“It’s the memories of the grandstand being used, you have to go back a long way. It’s been out of commission for a very long time,” stated Gardner.

The demolition also ties into broader efforts to make the grounds more accessible and usable for the entire community. The three affirmed their mission to keep the facilities safe and in top form for public use.

“This is a lot of space that’s just being wasted, for one thing. It’s in the way, it’s dangerous,” stated Gardner. “This makes it possible for us to have more room for little kids to run around. We can put up some nice, usable bleachers in the near future. I think it’s part of modernizing and making safe and usable the entire Youth Center.”

For anyone who doesn’t want to see the grandstand go, the Youth Center invites them to come down and see what’s happening on the grounds. Gardner noted that it has probably been a long time since many have seen what the grandstand looks like today.

He also invites the community to see how active and vibrant the Youth Center has become. Visitors are welcome to come by and see the site before the demolition, as the grounds are always open.

Gardner emphasized that the Youth Center respects and honors the memories and emotions tied to the grandstand, acknowledging the sadness some may feel at its loss.

He hopes the community will continue to support the Youth Center as it grows and evolves.

“The Youth Center’s constantly changing. It’s constantly improving,” Gardner said. “We got a new color; some people might remember that the Youth Center used to be yellow, and now it’s a beautiful, sort of bluish gray. Now you can see how fantastic it looks. We just want everybody in the community to be welcome here, to come and enjoy it, bring their kids, and make memories , just like the people in the past.”