We were elated last week to share news of the groundbreaking for Firetree Place’s expansion.

As our article in Thursday’s edition noted, the addition will double the size of the facility on Campbell Street, allowing Firetree Place to serve more than 200 children each day.

The expansion will also enlarge the facility’s playground.

“As a nonprofit community center, I and the board believes, that we are also here to do more, and this expansion allows us to move the children into the nice, secure wing, and then open up this side of the building to offer the community other community-related activities and events that I think the community has been looking for,” William Dayton, CEO of Firetree Place, said.

Firetree Place, as several officials at the groundbreaking noted, has played a critical role in providing child care — a service Lycoming County’s economy direly needs. The expansion will also afford Firetree Place opportunities to offer other community events and serve other portions of the residents of Williamsport beyond families with small children.

“For the kids, for the seniors, it’s a safe place to go,” Lycoming County Commissioner Scott Metzger noted.

Firetree Place has tirelessly served the community for years. We are confident that the expansion will allow the organization to do even more for its neighbors and we are thankful for all their efforts, past and future, to make Williamsport a better place to live.