Some organizations measure their impact in grant dollars or program enrollments. The Goodhue Community Center on Staten Island measures it in generations. Founded in 1912, Goodhue has been a cornerstone of the North Shore for more than a century — a place where children have grown up, families have found support, and the community has gathered through every era of the borough’s history. In 2026, this beloved institution is entering a new chapter: a brand-new 20,000-square-foot facility, designed by BKSK Architects, is in development.

For Staten Island residents who grew up going to Goodhue Summer Camp, playing on its ball fields, or using its gymnasium and computer lab, the news of a new building isn’t just an infrastructure update — it’s a statement that the organization they grew up with is built to last another century.

What Goodhue Is and Who It Serves

The Goodhue Community Center, now operated under Children’s Aid, sits on one of the largest green spaces on Staten Island’s North Shore — 40 acres of woodlands and recreational space in a part of the borough that has historically had fewer resources than the South Shore. That campus is itself a community asset: ball fields, a gymnasium, an outdoor pool, woodland trails, and open space that families rely on year-round.

But Goodhue is more than a park. It’s a social services hub. Families come for after-school programs, youth development initiatives, summer camp, and a range of community services that support children and families navigating real challenges. For over a century, Goodhue has been the kind of place that fills the gaps — offering structured, caring programming to kids who need it, and giving parents a trusted partner in their community.

The summer camp, in particular, has been part of the fabric of North Shore childhood for generations. For many Staten Island families, Goodhue Summer Camp is where their kids learn to swim, make their first friends outside the classroom, and spend long July afternoons doing exactly what children are supposed to do.

A New Building for a New Era

The decision to build a new 20,000-square-foot facility reflects both Goodhue’s ambitions and the community’s needs. Designed by BKSK Architects — a firm known for thoughtful community-centered design — the new building will allow Goodhue to expand its programming capacity and better serve the families who depend on it. Details about programming expansions and a timeline for the new facility are expected to be shared as the project advances.

The project is a reminder that investing in community infrastructure isn’t just about bricks and mortar. When a neighborhood center gets a new building, it signals something to the families who use it: that they matter, that the organization serving them is here for the long haul, and that someone is paying attention to what this corner of the borough needs.

A Borough Full of Community Builders

Goodhue is one piece of a larger nonprofit ecosystem on Staten Island that often goes underappreciated. Nonprofit Staten Island, the borough’s nonprofit support backbone organization, has been strengthening local organizations and amplifying community voice for over two decades. The GRACE Foundation serves children and adults affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder from its location at 460 Brielle Avenue. The Staten Island Business Outreach Center has been providing technical assistance to local entrepreneurs since 1980.

Together, these organizations represent the kind of community infrastructure that doesn’t make headlines but makes neighborhoods livable. Staten Island’s civic culture tends to be quieter than the other boroughs — less visible from Manhattan, less covered by the press — but the organizations working here are doing serious, sustained work.

What You Need to Know

• What it is: The Goodhue Community Center is a 114-year-old community institution on Staten Island’s North Shore, operated by Children’s Aid, set on 40 acres of woodlands and recreational space.
• What it offers: Youth development programs, summer camp, after-school programming, a gymnasium, outdoor pool, ball fields, and community services for North Shore families.
• New development: A new 20,000-square-foot facility designed by BKSK Architects is in development — the next chapter for one of Staten Island’s oldest community institutions.
• Location: Goodhue is located on the North Shore of Staten Island; contact Children’s Aid for the current address and program schedules.
• Summer camp: Goodhue Summer Camp is a North Shore tradition for families — enrollment information is available through Children’s Aid NYC.
• Learn more: Visit childrensaidnyc.org for program details, enrollment, and updates on the new facility.

If you’re a North Shore family who hasn’t connected with Goodhue recently — or if you’ve never heard of it — now is a good time to pay attention. An organization that has served Staten Island since 1912 and is actively building toward its next century is exactly the kind of local hero worth knowing about. The new facility will open more doors; the community that fills it will be the same one that’s been showing up here for generations.

For more on what’s happening across Staten Island’s parks and natural spaces, check out our recent guide to Staten Island hidden gems including St. George, Snug Harbor, and the North Shore.