The old building that houses the Parent Child Center in Leitchfield has received a facelift, making the entryway safer for the children as they enter and exit the building.

“I have been concerned about the way those steps led straight into the street since we started using them, “ said Executive Director of the Breck/Grayson Parent Child Center Cathy Darst. “The steps are steep and if a child were to slip and end up falling into the street and a car was coming up the road it would have been a tragedy. “

When stimulus grant money became available from the federal government Darst redesigned the entryway so the step came down from the top around the sides in a circular pattern to the bottom and are not nearly as steep as the original steps.

“So people have comment on the fact that we are changing the historical integrity of the old building but I think the safety of he children is what is most important here,” said Darst. “We were written up in several federal reports about those steps and the way they enter into the street. One report was as far back as 12 years ago.”

When the child development center was awarded the $26,000 stimulus grant they immediately made plans to make the entryway safer.

“We are very blessed to have Terry Phillips as a crossing,” said Darst. “He has been here every day all these years and he does it as a volunteer. There is no telling how many accidents he has prevented.”

The building was originally built and used as the Leitchfield Field High School and in 1971 it was renovated and turned into the current childe development center.

The center services over 200 children and family through its home based and in center child development program though out the Grayson and Breckinridge Counties area.

Darst expects the entryway to be complete in the next two to three weeks and it will have not only new steps but a new sculpture of a mother and three children sitting on a park bench with lights and flowers to decorate the area.

The building is located at located at 201 East Walnut Street.