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For two decades, the Day Street Community Center has been the heart of our regional parks - transforming from a former police station into a vibrant hub for youth, recreation, and connection. Today, as we celebrate this milestone, our "home away from home" needs vital repairs and modern upgrades to continue serving the Stroud Region safely and effectively.
Priority needs:
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New flooring in kitchenette
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Finish front siding/masonry repairs
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New countertop in kitchenette
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Electrical updates to outlets/wiring
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Wall repairs & repainting
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Add shelves in attic
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Gutter repairs
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Partial or full roof replacement
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A diaper changing station in each restroom
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Acoustic paneling in gym
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Repair gym floor
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Paint throughout
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Awning or rain diversion over HVAC condenser
Additional improvements to better serve the community:
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Replace carpeting throughout (replace with other than carpet)
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Rebalance heating/cooling system (building has major hot/cold spots)
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Replace exterior doors (rusting, some difficult to use, not welcoming/appealing)
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Re-key doors (many old locks with no key, too many different keys)
To build capacity for Day Street Community Center:
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Reconfigure classroom & meeting room layout (add hallway)
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Extended gym to full size
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Add stairs to attic
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Update restrooms
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Improve exterior
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Update security system & electronic access
How You Can Help
Advisory Group, next meeting *RESCHEDULED* March 31, 5pm
We are seeking partners, donors, and volunteers to help us tackle our most pressing facility needs:
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Immediate Repairs: Restoring flood-damaged kitchenette flooring, fixing the gym floor, and addressing roofing/masonry.
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Safety & Accessibility: Electrical updates, HVAC rebalancing, and adding diaper changing stations in all restrooms.
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Building for the Future: Reconfiguring layouts and expanding our gym to double its current programming capacity.
Donate: Cash or Check to
"Friends of SROSRC"
15 Day Street
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
Memo: Day St. Revitalization
Are you a licensed contractor willing to donate to community center improvements? Please call us at 570-426-1512.
Day Street Community Center Turns 20
Situated near the bustling corridor that connects Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg, Day Street Community Center sits at the heart of our regional park system. Along with Dansbury Park and the Levee Loop Trail, it serves as a hub for recreation, learning, and community connection for residents of all ages. Residents rely on the center for programs, gatherings, and youth activities, and it has become a space where the community truly comes together.
Long before it buzzed with summer camp energy and community programs, the building served a very different role in town. Originally the town’s police station, it became available when the police moved to a new facility down the block. Local volunteers from Kiwanis and other organizations saw an opportunity to transform the building into a community hub. With vision, dedication, and a lot of elbow grease, they converted it into a space for recreation, learning, and connection.
The transformation was practical and imaginative. The former garage was leveled and converted into a gymnasium, now hosting youth programs, small group activities, and community events. Offices were repurposed into classrooms, meeting rooms, and administrative space for the Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission. A vestige of the building’s past, the evidence photography darkroom in the attic, still exists today as storage. Volunteers installed matching carpets throughout, creating cohesion, warmth, and a functional space - even though the building was never originally designed to be a community center.
Over the years, the center has become essential for youth and community programming. StroudKids camp uses the building during inclement weather, keeping kids active and engaged even when outdoor play isn’t possible. Classrooms and meeting spaces support workshops, volunteer gatherings, and educational programs. Families and children of all ages have found ways to use the center, making it an indispensable part of Stroud Region recreation.
The building shows its age in some areas, creating opportunities for improvement. The gym floor now has a crack in the concrete, and the kitchenette cabinets and flooring were damaged during 2024 flooding. Drainage improvements have mitigated much of the water issue, but siding repairs, gutter work, and updated kitchenette flooring (ideally tile or LVP) are still needed. The gym’s echo can make programming challenging, and acoustic panels would improve the experience. While the gym currently fits half-court activity, a long-term goal is to expand the space to roughly double its size, allowing for more flexible programming. Layout improvements throughout the building could also help the center accommodate several activities at once, maximizing its potential.
Even with these needs, the center remains full of life. Programs continue to grow, residents enjoy their time there, and staff and volunteers are committed to keeping the building welcoming and active. Every corner tells a story of community care, from the carpets installed by volunteers two decades ago to the darkroom attic now holding supplies. The center is shaped not by its original design, but by the people who have used, loved, and sustained it over the years.
Looking forward, improvements to Day Street Community Center represent an opportunity to enhance the experience for everyone who uses it. Updates to the gym, kitchenette, and general layout will create a safer, more functional, and more inviting space for children, adults, and seniors alike. Community support will ensure that this hub continues to provide recreation, learning, and connection for decades to come.
Day Street Community Center is proof that when neighbors come together, a building with a very different original purpose can be transformed into a vibrant community hub. Twenty years on, its story is still being written, and the next chapter is full of promise.
