Boys & Girls Club ready to renovate former armory into year-round site

The Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area plans to renovate the former National Guard Armory in Merrill, adjacent to the Merrill Fairgrounds, converting it into a full-service, year-round club site for area youth.
The club has secured $3 million for the construction project, with funding coming from foundations, businesses, service clubs, and individuals. Fundraising for construction is complete, though the club says additional operational funding is still needed before the renovation can move forward. Opportunities for businesses, foundations, service clubs, and individuals to support the project remain available.
The Boys & Girls Club has served kids and teens at Prairie River Middle School since October 2022. The renovated armory will allow the club to reach more young people and to expand services to additional grade levels.
When finished, the site will be open to youth in the Merrill community during out-of-school hours and throughout the summer. Planned features include four classrooms, a playground, a teaching kitchen, an art studio, gym space, and an academic center.
The expanded space is intended to support programming in academic and hands-on learning, life and workforce readiness, STEM, art, health and wellness, and character and leadership development.

Construction is anticipated to begin in October 2026 and to be completed in time for the 2027 summer program season. The completion would coincide with the Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area’s 30th anniversary.
The Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area serves more than 1,500 registered members at four locations and supports an additional 5,500 young people through outreach initiatives. The Wausau club location is open five days a week throughout the year.
More information about the Merrill project is available at bgclub.com/merrill or by contacting Kim Larsen at kiml@bgclub.com or 715. 845.2582, extension 215.