Story of the Harlem Community Center
A handful of concerned citizens of Harlem Township banded together in 1957 to provide constructive adult leadership and safe recreational opportunity for the many hundreds of children in the community.
Calling themselves the Harlem Youth Council, they were granted a State Charter as a not-for-profit corporation on June 21, 1957. Our founders’ purpose, expressed in the original Charter, provided a firm foundation upon which to build.
In its first year, 200 people utilized its programs. In 1967 that number grew to 1,200. Today, Harlem Community Center has grown into a regional outreach agency providing services and opportunities to over 100,000 individuals a year.
Three acres of land were given to the Center in 1966 and an old church was donated and moved to our present site; before it could be put to use, the building was totally destroyed by fire in April 1967.
Encouraged by the generous financial support of local industry and business, our neighbors and friends pitched in with a special Fund Drive which enabled us to replace the destroyed structure with a new two-level Center. Rising literally from the ashes, we have a small gymnasium, two classrooms, a convertible three-room recreation area, kitchen, office space, washroom, and storage.
HCC currently operates out of three locations. HCC’s administrative facility is located in the Village of Machesney Park. This facility is home to the administrative offices, gymnasium, and classrooms.
The HCC/Wentland Sport Complex, located in Loves Park, is a 32-acre facility created to meet the needs for open green space and for both passive and active recreational opportunities. It currently has 15 ball diamonds (4-6 tournament quality), basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, a walking path, and SkateWorks.
HCC also built a 27,000 sq ft building for the Hand-n-Hand Child Care Center.
In 2025, we will grow again to serve even more members of the community with a 40,000 sq ft facility that will house a new childcare center, a senior day center, and 2 large gymnasiums.
Harlem Community Center 