Calls for a community center in Allston-Brighton are renewed after the Harvard Ed Portal announced that they are discontinuing their discounted athletic membership program starting September.

In its place, the Ed Portal will work on “expanding our recreation and wellness programming to include additional instructor-led yoga classes.” In an email sent on August 25, they also stated that they will continue to offer access to Harvard Stadium and select athletic events to its members. 

Kelly McGrath, the Executive Director of Brighton Main Streets, says that the loss of these benefits represents more of the city’s failure to develop infrastructure, like athletic facilities in Allston-Brighton.

“I think this constant ‘let Harvard do this. And let Harvard do that,’ has taken away from the real need for the city and maybe even the state to step in to say ‘we need a community center.’ If we had a viable community center that had a pool and had a gym, this wouldn’t be an issue, right?,” says McGrath. “We should be pushing the city, and I don’t think that’s Harvard’s responsibility.” 

As part of Boston’s 54-million-dollar initiative to improve its free public pools, Boston Children and Youth Family (BCYF) Centers in Mattapan, Charlestown and East Boston have recently been renovated. Other BCYF centers, such as those in Jamaica Plain, Dorchester and Hyde Park, offer free fitness centers. 

On the other hand, Allston’s BCYF center at Jackson Mann, which is currently operating under a limited capacity, has neither a fitness center nor a public pool.

Some neighbors, such as Will Hansen, have started their own initiatives to democratize fitness programs in the community. For the past year, Hansen has hosted outdoor fitness classes every one or two weeks at different locations in Allston. The workouts are typically mid-day during the week at various locations, including Smith Park, Magazine Beach and Corey Park. 

At the end of the day, however, the issue of a community center that supplies services, such as a fitness center and pool remains. “Allston-Brighton continues to be left behind for some reason, and I think that has a lot to do with it, the fact that they think that BC, BU, and Harvard are going to pick up the slack,” McGrath says. “I don’t know what it takes to get a community center. I really don’t. It’s mind boggling to me that year after year, it’s been a long time.” ■