Governor Hochul Attends Ribbon Cutting for Newly Expanded Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center

For more than 70 years, the Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center has not only been a vital community resource for residents of Bridgehampton and nearby towns, it has often been a lifeline for working parents and other members of the community in need.

The center provides multiple services to the community, particularly to marginalized families and individuals seeking support in various ways, from child care to community programs, food pantry services, cultural enrichment and more.

For years, Executive Director Bonnie Cannon has been at the helm of that effort. And while she’s witnessed, firsthand, countless times how vital the work is that the center does, she admits to moments of self-doubt and soul-searching.

“Sometimes you wonder, is it all for naught? Am I really doing what’s needed?” she said in an interview earlier this week.

However, she said she got the affirmation she needed at the end of last week, during a press conference at the center.

On Friday, August 18, Governor Kathy Hochul was on hand, along with several other local lawmakers and distinguished members of the community, for an official opening ceremony for the center’s recently completed $3.3 million, 7,828-square-foot building.

The new building will enhance the center’s ability to provide even more of the vital services and programs it supplies. Construction of the building was made possible through fundraising and several state grants.

Listening to Hochul speak about the importance of what the center provides was an experience Cannon said she found hard to put into words.

“It was unbelievable,” she said. “It was so phenomenal. We’ve been here for the past 70-plus years, doing this work, but so many people still don’t know what we do or that we exist. So now we have this new building, and having the governor’s stamp of approval — it’s just a long time coming.

“It just felt so wonderful to finally be recognized by the state of New York for all the hard work we do on the East End of Long Island,” she added. “It felt like a dream come true.”

The new building — one of several buildings on the 6-acre property — will vastly expand on what the center can offer. Previously, it was licensed to care for around 36 children, Cannon said. The addition of the new building moves that number to more than 100.

The addition of Smart Boards will allow the center to host virtual classes for both children and adults, and additional meeting space will allow the center to host more vital community programming, for Latino supports groups, ENL classes, workforce development and training, after-school programs and more.

“This new facility will help expand access to the high-quality child care options and educational programs families on the East End and across Long Island deserve,” Hochul said. “By investing in this state-of-the-art facility, we are investing in working parents and giving them the support they need to remain in the workforce while providing their kids with academic enrichment and care.”

It was also announced at the Friday press conference that Empire State Development is supporting the new center with a $300,000 grant, recommended by the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, to reflect New York State’s commitment to promoting social equity and expanding economic opportunities for underserved communities across the state.

“A thriving economy is tied to a workforce equipped with accessible child care options,” said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. “The Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center’s new facility will bolster support for families and their children, contributing to a stronger local economy while supporting the vibrancy of the East End community.”

Cannon said that listening to Hochul speak at the press conference was rewarding.

“It was like confirmation for me of all the things we’re doing at the center, and all the things we need to do,” she said. “She hit on the importance of child care, and that’s first and foremost what we’re about at the center, so to hear it said was great.”

State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., who lives in neighboring Sag Harbor, was on hand at the ribbon-cutting as well. His support has been crucial in helping obtain grant money, Cannon said. He spoke about the significance of the expansion of the center and its place in the community.

“It is with immense pride and gratitude that we celebrate the official ribbon-cutting of the new building at the Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center,” he said. “It is a watershed moment for the center, a historically Black, community-based organization serving all marginalized East End children and families.

“The center’s educational and enrichment programs are a lifeline for working families. New York’s investment in the center is not just in bricks and mortar, but in the future of our community. The center, deeply rooted in our history and driven by compassion, has nurtured the well-being of East End children and families since the tragic fire in the 1950s that spurred its creation. Under the exceptional leadership of Executive Director Bonnie Michelle Cannon, the center fosters an inclusive environment that promotes growth, knowledge, and empowerment, regardless of background. Together, we are building a foundation of hope and opportunity that will uplift generations to come.”

The work that’s been done so far is impressive, but far from over, Cannon said.

The next expansion phase will include the addition of an indoor pool and gym, and Cannon said she’d love to see the center one day be able to offer 24/7 child care, to offer a much needed service to families in the area who work late night or overnight shifts and need reliable child care during those hours.

“Right now, we’re in the strategic stages of planning that, but it’s definitely something we’re talking about,” she said. “Farther west, you can find these places that offer 24/7 care, but out here we have hospital workers and government workers who work at night, people who work at nursing rehab centers, people who work in the hospitality industry, so there’s definitely a need for that.”

Cannon said she was buoyed by the support, and is hoping it carries over into the future. She pointed out that the center also owns a building on Windmill Lane in Southampton Village, which it plans to turn into a career support center.

“Now we’re off to our next chapter,” she said. “It’s just great. I’m hoping that everybody will take the ride with us.”