Cavanagh Rec Center

LOCATION
426 8th Street (corner of 8th & G)
Petaluma, CA 94952
707-765-8488 ext 107

HOURS
9 am – 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Closed on weekends, national holidays and all school holidays.

HISTORY
This beloved community center originally opened on September 11, 1958 as the first Boys Club in Petaluma.

Ed O’Neill was the Club’s first Executive Director. August Lepori was named the first Board President. Robert E. Acorn held the office of Second Vice-President and Dolph B. Hill, Jr. was the original Secretary-Treasurer. The Board of Directors also included Robert Atkinson, AP Behrens, Gene Benedetti, Frank Catelli, Geo Dondero, Edward Frank, Dom Fusaro, Jack E Gallagher, Harry Gossage, Jr., Vernon Jensen, John Lounibos, Don Noriel, Dr. William O’Shea, Jr., Roger Pearson, Don Ramatici, Philip Schnee, P Douglas Schwobeda, William Sovel, HH Vogensen, Merle Wolfe, and Fred Klemenok.

The Petaluma Leghorns, a semi-pro football team, was the first of a multitude of local businesses, organizations and individuals to raise funds and donate their time and services to construct The Boys Club. In 1996 it was sold to the city of Petaluma and renamed The Jack Cavanagh Recreation Center.

In 2014, Mentor Me took over management of the center. After over $300,000 in renovations, the facility has emerged as the go-to place for over 300 K-12 students (mentees) and their mentors. Mentees can visit year-round during non-school hours to engage in academic, social and recreational activities, during times when they are generally unsupervised (after school, summer and school breaks). Mentees and their mentors can participate in educational enrichment activities (cooking classes, art/music programs, sports), take advantage of academic services such as tutoring and participate in career exploration activities, and receive college admissions coaching. The Mentor Me Cavanagh Recreation Center also serves as the Mentor Me administrative offices.

Thank you to Golden State LumberSonoma Marin ConstructionRebuilding Together PetalumaPetaluma Community FoundationAthleta and the myriad of volunteers who lent their time, talent, strength and vision to restore the Cavanagh Recreation Center into a vibrant community facility once again!