News Flash Home
The original item was published from 6/24/2021 3:37:00 PM to 6/27/2021 12:00:01 AM.

News Flash

News Releases

Posted on: June 24, 2021

[ARCHIVED] PAL Gym is Getting a Much-Needed Facelift

PAL Gym Solano

Several volunteers and Las Cruces first responders spent part of Saturday, June 19 prepping and painting the exterior of the Police Athletic League building, 700 N. Solano Drive, in anticipation of the gym's opening this summer.

 The PAL gym has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2020, and the building, even before the public health emergency, was in need of aesthetic attention.

In years past, PAL has served about 80 registered youth at a time in various activities including boxing and fitness training. Upcoming plans for PAL, which have been discussed with City officials, are to focus on various activities such as chess, tutoring and other engaging curriculum, in addition to athletics.

“We envision PAL becoming more of a Police Activities League instead of just athletics,” said Louie Burke, a former world-class boxer and boxing trainer for world champions Austin Trout and Jennifer Han. “We want PAL to be more inclusive and serve a wider-range of youth in our community.”

Burke has also been a firefighter with the Las Cruces Fire Department for the past 24 years.

More than 30 volunteers, Community Outreach officers from the Las Cruces Police Department and firefighters from the Las Cruces Fire Department spent much of Saturday, June 19, working on the exterior of the PAL gym. The work included prepping and painting the building's exterior.

Among the volunteers was Han, the current women's Featherweight World Champion, from El Paso. Also volunteering were several parishioners from Las Cruces First and Wild West Martial Arts and Fitness. Three professional painting companies – Calderon’s Quality Painting, JRC Painting and EROD Painting – provided their expertise along with Raul Sanchez and Ronnie Navarrete from The Home Depot. The Home Depot also donated paint, supplies and breakfast for the volunteers.

Beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday, June 26, volunteers will turn their  attention to repainting and refurbishing the building's interior. Anyone who wants  to volunteer is asked to meet at the PAL gym.

Organizers anticipate opening the PAL gym to area youth later this summer.

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in News Releases

Thomas Branigan Library

Crocodile Movie for Families

Posted on: June 5, 2023
Books

Community Cookbook Project

Posted on: June 5, 2023
Lane Closure (1)

South Solano Drive Lane Closure

Posted on: June 5, 2023
City Councilors

City Council to Meet June 5, 2023

Posted on: June 2, 2023
Books

Children's Book Fair at Sage Café

Posted on: June 2, 2023
Water Manhole COver

University Avenue Water Outages

Posted on: June 2, 2023
Visita Las Cruces Unveils New Logo

Visit Las Cruces Unveils New Logo

Posted on: May 30, 2023
Kids Expo

Kids EXPO 2023

Posted on: May 26, 2023
Model wearing dress made out of recycled items

Trashion Fashion Show

Posted on: May 25, 2023
Free Swim Days 2023

Free Swim Days 2023

Posted on: May 22, 2023
Photo of Downtown Las Cruces from sidewalk looking at the exterior signs of businesses.

SizeUp Business Tool

Posted on: May 15, 2023
People watching a movie in the park

2023 Movies in the Park

Posted on: May 11, 2023
Shoulder Work

Las Cruces Dam Maintenance

Posted on: May 1, 2023
Lane Closure (1)

Solano Drive Lane Closures

Posted on: April 5, 2023
Shoulder Work

Madrid Avenue Construction

Posted on: February 17, 2023
Volunteers picking up trash in front of colorful mural

Team Up to Clean Up 2023!

Posted on: January 19, 2023
Road Closed Sign

Westway Avenue Closure

Posted on: November 2, 2022