Love Uprising 

Introduction: 

         Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center is the vision of World Boxing Champion “Lightning” Lonnie Smith to empower underserved populations through boxing fitness programs, events, and cultural awareness programs.  Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center is a collaborative community center that incorporates fitness and learning programs to provide positive outlets for urban youth.

          “ Lightning” Lonnie Smith grew up in Northeast Denver where the Denver Public Schools (DPS) Graduation Rate is 51%.  Over 50,000 children live in Northeast Denver and Aurora, and two-thirds of those children live in poverty or at risk of being left behind.  Lonnie knows these challenges firsthand.  Lonnie had his own challenges attending several DPS schools including Manual High School, but had boxing to pull him through and put him on track to become a World Champion.   Lonnie understands the positive influence that sports can play in the lives of youth.

          In the Skyland/North City Park neighborhoods, there are very few places in the community for youth to play and hang out.  There are 2 parks and 2 playgrounds, and no community centers.  Without healthy positive spaces for youth to hang out, the potential for trouble escalates.

         As a concerned parent of 11 children, Lonnie realized it was time to do something for his kids and the community. His non-profit, Goldfield Fairlord, contracted to purchase the former East YMCA in Northeast Denver. The center renamed Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center was built in 1956 is a 27,500 square foot building on 4.25 acre lot with 88 parking spaces.  The building originally was the East YMCA, and has been a charter school and church.

         The East YMCA was the most successful model. The East YMCA served as the community center for the Skyland and Clayton neighborhoods.  The complex contained a full court basketball gymnasium, outdoor Olympic swimming pool, fitness center, and an Early Education Center.  Over the years, the East YMCA provided a healthy safe place to grow up for many Denver youth including Mayor Michael Hancock, Chauncey Billups, and “Lightning” Lonnie Smith.

         Most residents consider the closure of the YMCA a negative impact on the community, representing a significant loss of youth and senior services.  Most residents would like to see the YMCA developed into an intergenerational community center with the adjacent open space enhanced as an outdoor play and public space for families.

        Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center plans to renovate the community center in phases, and seeks collaborative partners to reopen the facility.  Lightning Lonnie Smith’s Fitness Learning Center will focus its efforts on fitness and boxing programs and events, and partner with other organizations to run the basketball gym and education center.

 Mission Statement:

          The mission of Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center is:

• To empower underserved populations through boxing fitness programs and events
• To provide cultural awareness programs connecting community members to their historical roots
• Establish artistic programs and showcases to bridge cultural communication gaps

 Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Center Program Development Plans:

       Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center needs community support to renovate the center.  Since the East YMCA sold the property in 2003, the building has been in steady decline.  The early education center is not up to current safety codes.  The basketball court floor has warped due to water leaks. Weeds are growing through cracks in the swimming pool.  The renovation project has 4 phases:

• East- Community Learning Center and Café
• West- Basement Gymnasium/Locker Rooms
• North- Boxing & Fitness Center
• South- 4 Acre Grounds

         The East renovations will create a Community Learning Center and a healthy café.  The current configuration for the East Wing contains 3 spaces for a café, early education center/community classroom, and a collaborative computer/multimedia room.  Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center plans to renovate these spaces and lease them to businesses or non-profits with a community based education focus.

          The vision of the East Wing is to create either an Early Education center or Community Meeting space in the front part of the east wing.  This area contains a large open space with 3 bathrooms and a small room that will be converted into classroom/meeting space.  We will look to lease this space to an existing Early Education centers or job training programs to lease this space.  We will focus on green job training programs where we can teach hands on green construction skills as we renovate the building.

          The back part of the east wing will be converted into a multimedia/computer room, and counseling/mentoring offices. In the Skyland/Clayton neighborhoods, there are no libraries or computer labs.  We will seek multiple community education programs to lease this space and offer computer multimedia classes.  We will also look for at-risk youth counseling programs to provide a support network.

          One collaborative partner is Creative Minds Organization (CMO). CMO is a non-profit that educates at risk youth and creative adults in the areas of music and arts.  CMO is designed to keep the music and arts in the lives of youth, as well as enhance the lives of creative adults by providing knowledge of musical instruments, music production, recording equipment, and also reading and writing music. 

          Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center plans to open a community café in the space connecting the East and North wings.  In the Skyland/Clayton neighborhoods there are no cafés or coffee houses.  This would be a much-needed community gathering space.

          There is an existing kitchen that will be updated to serve sandwiches, salads, and soups.  The café will focus its menu on healthy foods, teas, and coffees.  The café will host educational events around healthy eating and active living.

         The North upgrades include the boxing gym, weight room, and front foyer.  These facilities are currently in operation and managed by Boxing to the Bone University, a program of Goldfield Fairlord.  Boxing to the Bone University will expand its amateur boxing program and add additional fitness programs.

          Boxing to the Bone University is “Lightning” Lonnie Smith’s youth boxing program.  Lonnie teaches youth from the ages of 7 and up the sweet science of boxing.  His program instills confidence and discipline in youth and provides a “safe haven” for after-school activities.

          Boxing to the Bone University also has fitness conditioning trainers that work with adults and youth.  Weight training and fitness boot camps are current programs.  Lonnie also teaches boxing conditioning to adults and professional fighters.

         The West renovations will restore the Olympic Size Basketball court and upgrade the locker room.  The basketball court is one of the main draws at the community center.  There are very few full sized courts like the one at Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center.  In the past, the Denver Nuggets used the court as their practice facility.  This space will be used for basketball leagues, volleyball, Zumba, aerobics, boxing and special events.

        Taylor Made, a non-profit run by former Denver Nugget “Fatty” Taylor, will run youth basketball leagues. Boxing to the Bone University will host USA Boxing Amateur events. Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center will develop a youth Volleyball league.  Fitness classes such as Zumba, dance, and aerobics will be offered.  The space will also be made available to outside groups for special events.

         The South renovations consist of upgrading and restoring the 4.25 acre grounds.  On the back grounds of the property, there is an Olympic sized swimming pool, outdoor concrete basket ball court, Softball field, Volleyball field, and a Playground and picnic area.  In the front, there is a children’s playground and a parking lot with 88 spaces.

        The swimming pool has not been maintained over the years, and has weeds growing in the bottom of the pool.  Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center will repurpose this swimming pool into a Skateboard Mural park.  There are no skateboard parks in Northeast Denver, and this one will be unique with its Mural Program.  A creative arts program will be created to teach youth that “tagging” can pay if you create art with your talent.  This skateboard park will be an outdoor Graffiti museum.

         Love Uprising, an organic community development organization will restore the playgrounds and fields into an edible learning landscape.  The softball and volleyball fields will be restored.  Farms and greenhouses will be built on the backfields to provide for the Community Café and a Farmer’s Markets. A toddler playground farm will be installed in front of the East Community Learning center.  A Orchard track will be planted with fruit trees along the path and fence line.  These farms can provide science and educational programs for schools within walking distance like Barrett Elementary, Clayton College and Excel Institute.

         Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center will also seek partners to develop a Solar Learning Farm.  The 27, 500 sq. ft. building has great Southern exposure and a flat roof.  The building has great exposure for the development of a green roof and green walls.  Irrigation will be designed to collect rainwater runoff from the roof and channel it to irrigate the fields.

Summary:

          Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center is what the community wants.  In 2008, North City Park Association/Skyland commissioned a survey that reported that the community wants this property developed as an intergenerational community center with the adjacent open space enhanced as an outdoor play and public space for families. This is what we are delivering.

          Lightning Lonnie’s Fitness Learning Center plans to renovate this propery into a place where the community can come learn about healthy eating active learning.  The space will be a collaborative center with multiple partners providing services that teach health & nutrition, job skils, life skills, and grows and serves healthy foods.

Contact Us

Lightning Lonnie's Fitness Learning Center

3540 E. 31st Avenue

Denver, Colorado 80205

Phone: 720.298.4421

Email: LightningLonnieSmith@gmail.com