Included are an all new, state of the art gymnasium with basketball courts as well as an elevated track in a building encompassing 57,000 square feet of new space. Also included will be a boxing gym, art rooms, music rooms, dance studios and an enlarged community gathering space. The new facility will also include football and soccer fields, a pool, and an outdoor amphitheater.
Bryant “BB” Nolden, the longtime director of Berston, had announced plans for the expansion in the fall of 2022. He died unexpectedly weeks later and plans for the expansion were put on hold.
It was not long before community leaders took up the torch to turn Nolden’s dream into reality.
“It was because of his (Nolden’s) vision; it was because of his drive and his desire to make sure that we reawaken this beacon of hope that we find in Berston Field House,” said Genesee County Commissioner Delrico J. Lloyd.
The C.S. Mott Foundation initially pledged $10 million toward the project. Ridgway White, executive director of the foundation, announced an additional $5 million commitment during Wednesday’s groundbreaking.
White said Wednesday’s groundbreaking was a mix of excitement and sadness. “BB’s not here today,”
Nolden was certainly there in spirit and memory as a chair was set aside for him as well as a ceremonial shovel.
Mayor Sheldon Neeley announced that he will submit a resolution for the city to provide another $1 million toward the project. That funding would have to receive approval from the Flint City Council.
“I’m excited,” said Valorie Horton, the interim director of Berston Field House. “It’s wonderful to finally see some bulldozers out here. This has been a five-year dream and we’ve been working really hard to make this happen.”
The century-old facility has been a community hub for Flint. Serving as an educational and recreational center, Berston has birthed some of the world’s best athletes, including undisputed world middleweight champ Claressa Shields. “I just remember like Berston being the place that was safe for me to come where I felt like my complete self.”
“I’ll be a part of it, and I’ll be down here, and I’m happy that BB chose my face to be on the front of Berston Field House because now, it’s Berston but they’ll be like, ‘Oh that Claressa Shields’ gym,’ and it’s not my gym, but that’s what they’ll call it,” Shields said.
Mayor Neeley said this shows the Flint community is coming together.
“It really speaks to who we are as a city. We are Flint Strong. We are one community. We are coming together using multiple funding to be able to support this advancement,” Neeley said.
The first phase of the project is expected to be complete by 2025.
