Department Information

The Peter Twomey Youth Center (PTYC) is the base for the Extended Day Programs from Florence Roche, Swallow Union and Boutwell schools; Community Education Programs (adult and children’s enrichment); and scheduling for all district facilities including the Performing Arts Center, Black Box Theater, gyms and fields. It is self-supporting and is funded by tuitions, community donations and fundraisers. PTYC is located at 348 Main Street in Groton on the campus of the Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School and Florence Roche Elementary School.

History of the PTYC

In January of 1997, community representatives from many of the local youth athletic leagues, school personnel and other interested parties, gathered to see what could be done to salvage this building and aid these groups in their need for more available gym space. From this group the “New Gym” Renovation Committee was formed.

The following renovations and repairs to the building, including painting, carpeting, installing new doors and windows and painting the outside of the building were all accomplished through fundraising efforts and a volunteer workforce. The culmination of these efforts took place during the summer of 2000 with volunteers working every Saturday to lay down a new hardwood floor in the gym. When the last piece of wood was in place, the project that began three years earlier was completed.

This project took on very special meaning when the School Committee agreed to rename the building after Peter Michael Twomey. Peter was an outstanding youth from our community who was killed in a car accident on July 15, 1997. Peter, then a recent graduate from GDRHS, was a National Honor Society student and star athlete who truly exemplified the school motto, “A promise to excel”. The largest fundraiser for the Youth Center became the Peter Twomey Memorial Golf Classic. Along with two additional grass root fundraisers, the four Classics, and other miscellaneous donations, over $100K has been raised to support the Peter Twomey Youth Center and the programs that take place there.

Since opening its doors in September of 1997, the PTYC has served as a warm and nurturing environment for the After School Extended Day Program in our District with an average of 100-students from grades K-8 attending daily. The facility has also enabled a new Mid-Day Program to begin for Kindergarten students enrolled in the Half-Day Programs. Also, during the day, the facility provides much needed gym space for the 3 schools on the Main Campus. In the evening, the Groton Dunstable Adult Ed Program holds classes in the building and it serves as meeting space for the community youth athletic leagues and the GD Athletic Booster Club. We have also worked with the Groton Police Department to bring several dances and social nights for the teens in our District. Finally, several local adult athletic leagues take advantage of the gym facility on weekends.

The Peter Twomey Youth Center, both the facility itself and the programs that it houses, continues to exceed all of our expectations.

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