Construction on Berston’s long-awaited renovation and expansion has made tremendous progress, with the new 50,000-square-foot facility nearing completion.
The BB Nolden Center located at Berston Field House is a state-of-the-art recreation facility that will feature an NBA-regulation basketball court, bleacher seating for 1,200 visitors, a 1/8-mile indoor track, and a bright, open multi-purpose fitness center overlooking outdoor pickleball courts, softball and little league diamonds, basketball and volleyball courts, and a multi-sport field for football, soccer, and lacrosse. The reimagined campus also features a children’s playground, and amphitheater designed for families and community gatherings.
The existing fieldhouse is being renovated to enhance the boxing gym and Success Center, create multiple performing and visual art studios, meeting and office spaces, a large community room, and more. When complete, Berston will triple in size to support more than 80 programs — serving people of all ages through arts, education, fitness, and recreation.
Construction Pause
The Friends of Berston is committed to this amazing transformation that will serve Flint and Genesee County residents for generations to come. So far, we have raised and carefully invested $23.6 million to advance construction, with major support from the City of Flint, County of Genesee, State of Michigan, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Serra Foundation, the Ruth Mott Foundation, Larry L. and Susan Payeur Koehler, Prasad and Jayashree Kommareddi, the Greg and Angie Krueger Charitable Fund, Madonna and Jeff Bennett, Woodrow Stanley Youth Foundation, and individual donors and businesses.
During her public service tenure, United States Senator Debbie Stabenow submitted a $10 million Congressionally Directed Spending request for Fiscal Year 2025 to support the renovation and expansion of Berston Field House to help expand services, amenities, programming, and opportunities to serve more people. Earlier this year, Berston’s renovation and expansion faced an unexpected setback when Congress passed a Continuing Resolution instead of the full-year FY 2025 federal budget. As a result, the $10 million appropriation that would have helped complete the project was not funded.
Construction is temporarily paused as we work diligently to raise the remaining $17.6 million in funding necessary to finish the project by continuing to work with our local, state, and federal government officials, as well as engaging philanthropic foundations and individual donors, to complete the expansion and renovation of Berston Field House.
Our congressional representatives, United States Senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin, worked to include more than $6.32 million in funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing, Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to support the Berston expansion and renovation project. If passed, this bipartisan legislation would provide funding for Michigan priorities, and high-impact local projects such as Berston Field House.
Berston’s Impact
Today, Berston welcomes more than 36,000 visitors from across the county and beyond, each year. Once the expansion is complete, that number will grow exponentially. With capacity to house more than 80 programs — from youth athletics and senior fitness to arts, education and entrepreneurial and business development — Berston will become one of the most comprehensive community facilities in Genesee County, empowering residents for generations to come.
Ways You Can Help
Berston’s future depends on all of us. Your support — whether through a donation, corporate sponsorship, or simply sharing our story — brings us closer to the finish line.
Together, we can ensure Berston’s future – vibrant and equipped to serve our community for the next 100 years and beyond.
Contribute to the transformation by donating today!
