District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez Secured A Funding Commitment That Could Keep The MLK Drive Clubhouse Open While Leaders Work Toward A Long-Term Plan
The Eastside Boys & Girls Club received a potential lifeline Thursday after District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez announced $350,000 in funding aimed at keeping the longtime Martin Luther King Drive clubhouse operating beyond its planned Sept. 30 pause.
The funding, included as part of the city’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget discussions, would come through the Inner City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, or TIRZ No. 11, rather than the city’s General Fund. McKee-Rodriguez said members of the TIRZ board have agreed to support the allocation, though the board must still formally approve the funding.
The development comes just days after Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio notified families that programming at its Eastside Clubhouse would pause Sept. 30 because of financial challenges.
The announcement immediately sparked concern among East Side families, former club members and community leaders who have described the clubhouse as a longtime neighborhood institution.
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Funding Could Keep Eastside Clubhouse Open For Months
The $350,000 represents approximately half of the Eastside clubhouse’s annual operating budget.
Under the plan outlined by McKee-Rodriguez, roughly half of the allocation would initially be made available to keep the clubhouse operating for about three additional months.
The remaining funding would depend on Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio demonstrating a viable plan to become financially sustainable. McKee-Rodriguez said the additional time could allow the organization to pursue major donors and grants, restructure its budget and work with East Side residents and organizations on the future of programming at the site.
The Inner City TIRZ covers portions of San Antonio’s downtown, East and South sides and is designed to direct tax increment revenue toward redevelopment and community needs within the zone.
The Eastside Clubhouse has served generations of families from its Martin Luther King Drive location, providing after-school programming, literacy programs, summer camps and youth outreach.
A Lifeline, But Questions Remain
The new funding does not resolve the broader uncertainty surrounding Boys & Girls Clubs programming on San Antonio’s East Side.
The Rayburn Clubhouse is still scheduled to permanently close this month, and questions remain about what long-term youth programming will look like across the area.
Related: Community Call To Action Meeting Planned As East Side Families Face Youth Program Closures
The Observer has been following the community response since families learned of the changes, including calls for greater communication and a more permanent solution for children who rely on the neighborhood clubs.
Residents are also preparing for an Oct. 2 Community Call to Action at Second Baptist Community Center, where families, youth and community members are expected to discuss resources, support and possible next steps for the East Side.
