Niagara Falls City Council member Bridgette Myles secures $15,000 in state funding to expand night gym pilot for inner-city youth

Press release

Niagara Falls City Council Member Bridgette Myles announced the expansion of the city's night gym pilot program, securing $15,000 in New York state funding to bring evening youth programming to a second location extending access to a younger and underserved segment of the city's youth population.

The expansion builds on Mayor Robert Restaino's recent announcement of a $67,000 investment to reinstate the night gym model at the Boys & Girls Club of Niagara Falls, located at 725 17th St. That pilot, developed in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club, serves teens ages 16 to 18.

Myles' initiative targets youth ages 12 to 15 and will operate at a local Niagara Falls City School building on the opposite side of town, intended to remove transportation barriers and ensure no young person is left out of the pilot experience. The expansion is being developed in partnership with Niagara Falls City Schools and Say Yes Niagara Falls, with programming expected to launch in the fall/winter 2026 season.

"My first course of business since being elected this past January was to prioritize opportunities for youth engagement," Myles said. "After several community listening sessions, it became clear that families want meaningful opportunities to help our youth thrive. After establishing the inaugural City of Niagara Falls Youth Advisory Committee, I began exploring pathways for evening activities that will keep our young people occupied with fun, stimulating programming during the hours when they need it most."

The Myles-led expansion is currently in its curriculum planning phase and will offer youth access to gymnasium space for sports, arts programming, and mental health services. Both night gym pilots will feature late-night operational hours, with considerations for weekend programming as well.

"I thank the mayor for his partnership and leadership in reinstating the night gym model for our city's young people," Myles said. "However, we must ensure that all youth have adequate access and opportunity. This expansion will engage a younger age group in a facility on the opposite side of town so that no child faces a transportation barrier or is excluded from the pilot. I want to thank my colleagues on the City Council, incoming Niagara Falls City Schools Superintendent Stanley Wojton, Say Yes Niagara Falls Executive Officer David Rust for collaborating on the expansion, and State Sen. April N.M. Baskin for her partnership in securing the state funding that makes this possible."

The night gym pilot is a youth engagement initiative designed to provide safe, structured and stimulating after-hours programming for inner-city youth in Niagara Falls.