Steel beam (top) is raised to mark the topping off of new Boys and Girls Club of Metro Queens on Atlantic Avenue in Richmond Hill, Friday, July 12th. Queens Borough President Helen Marshall signed the beam (bottom) before it was hoisted up. Marshall provided the club, formerly known as the South Queens Boys and Girls Club, a total of $4.75 million for an $11.5 million renovation and expansion that includes a new community center.

Major League Baseball and the New York Mets also provided $250,000 in capital for the club’s new teen center. Marshall said the new building will be able to accommodate 375 children and contain the teen center, a regulation-size gym, a learning center, a technology center, a literacy center, a music room and dance studio.