STAMFORD DEMOCRATS WELCOME $2 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING TO RENOVATE LATHON WIDER COMMUNITY CENTER

STAMFORD – State Senator Pat Billie Miller (D-Stamford) today joined the State Bond Commission in approving $2 million in state aid for Phase 2 of the renovation of the Lathon Wider Community Center on Henry Street in Stamford.

Stamford is revitalizing Lathon Wider, transforming the historic city-owned building into a modern, full-service community space serving Stamford’s South End neighborhood. The total cost of the project is estimated at $4.5 million, including $2 million in state bonding, $1 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, and $1.5 million in federal Housing and Urban Development funding.

“I want to thank Governor Lamont and the Bond Commission members for recognizing the importance of this project and the impact that these renovations will have on the Stamford community for decades to come,” said Sen. Miller, who serves on the State Bond Commission. “The South End of Stamford is a vibrant and diverse neighborhood that’s growing, and it needs community-based facilities like Lathon Wider to provide people – especially kids – with access to programs and opportunities. I want to create a better environment for our youth and show them that they’re important, and that’s what these renovations will do.”

“This investment in the Lathon Wider Community Center will benefit all of our neighbors in the South End,” said state Representative Eilish Collins Main (D-Stamford). “The Lathon Wider Center has become a vital part of the community and welcomes residents of all ages and backgrounds to access the services and resources. Thank you to the Bond Commission and Governor Lamont for approving this funding and investing back into the Stamford community.”

“The redevelopment of this community center will support the greater community, families and youth of Stamford with opportunities, programs and connections that will benefit them for years to come,” said state Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton). “I’m grateful to Governor Lamont and state leaders for their continued support of Stamford.”

“These vital projects will help ensure the South End serves everyone who lives and works there,” said state Representative Matt Blumenthal (D-Stamford). “The South End is incredibly dynamic and diverse, and it deserves excellent community spaces. These projects will help ensure it does. Thanks to the Governor, our legislative leadership, and our federal delegation to helping make them a reality.”

“I am thrilled the State Bond Commission approved this funding for Stamford’s South End neighborhood, ensuring this community center continues to be a resource for residents,” said state Representative Hubert Delaney (D-Stamford). “This is a major investment in the future of our city and will serve as a resource for years to come.”

“Simply put, our kids deserve the best so that they can do their best, which equates to wins in the classroom and in their everyday lives,” said state Representative Jonathan Jacobson (D-Stamford). “What a bonus it is to have a facility like Lathon Wider to help them on their way. Thank you Governor Lamont and the State Bond Commission for approving the funding for this wonderful community center.”

“Sure, we can see the costs of improvements to the Lathon Wilder Community Center, but we’ll never be able to put a price tag on the possibilities and experiences our children can gain from a facility such as this godsend to families in the South End,” said state Representative Corey Paris (D-Stamford). “I want to thank Governor Lamont, the State Bond Commission, and the Stamford delegation for their continued commitment to a better Stamford for everyone.”

Constructed over 100 years ago and once serving as a public school, Lathon Wider is home to critical educational, health, childcare, recreational, and community-based services. Following a January 2025 mechanical failure that resulted in more than three feet of water entering the basement and forcing the facility to close, Stamford undertook a $1.25 million emergency restoration and modernization of the building, including three boilers, the electrical switchgear, water-heating equipment, and other mechanical infrastructure. Stamford also installed a modern building-management system capable of remotely monitoring critical mechanical, electrical, and water systems.

The new $2 million in state bonding approved today will fund Phase II of this project and support the comprehensive renovation of the Center’s outdated outdoor playground, as well as the renovation of a currently unoccupied interior space to establish a new South End EMS substation.

The Lathon Wider Community Center serves as an important hub for youth programming, recreation, and community-based services offered by nonprofits, community organizations, and the City of Stamford’s Parks and Recreation Department, providing children and families with greater opportunities to learn, grow, and play.