YMCA Roundup: Ys Announce Partnerships, Expansions and Mergers

The John E. Alexander South Wood County YMCA, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Wisconsin Rapids area have kicked off the public fundraising phase for their new shared facility at the former Rapids Mall space. A private fundraising effort already has raised $22 million of the needed $27.5 million, according to the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune. The facility will be a combination of renovated and newly constructed spaces of about 93,000 square feet. Construction is planned to begin later this summer.

The Yakima YMCA, Yakima, Washington, has partnered with several groups to build the YMCA and Yakima Rotary Aquatics Center in north-central Yakima. The public-private partnership is between the YMCA, the city of Yakima, Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital and the Yakima Rotary Club. The city is expected to pay $8 million for construction costs as opposed to $26 million for construction of its own aquatics center, according to a report by the Yakima Herald. The facility, which is expected to cost $20 million, is scheduled to open in fall 2019. The facility will include a fitness center, therapy rehabilitation clinic and youth area, as well as the aquatics center, which will have a leisure and lap pool, water slide and lazy river.

Brentwood  Family YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Brentwood, Tennessee, has received approval from the planning commission to build a two-story expansion to its current building, according to an article on Brentwood Home Page. The existing outdoor pool and skate park will be moved to where the tennis courts are currently located. The expansion will add about 30,000 square feet to the approximately 60,000-square-foot YMCA that was built in 1985. An optional parking area with 68 spaces in addition to 59 new parking spaces will be included in the expansion, as well as nine new soccer fields. Construction is expected to begin in 2020.

The Berkshire Family YMCA, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, has agreed to merge with the Springfield Diocese's Catholic Youth Center. The YMCA has been managing the CYC's programs for the last two years. According to The Berkshire Eagle, the YMCA's agreement with the youth center's programs was set to expire on July 1. With the merger, the programs will continue without interruption and will retain the CYC name. In addition to program fees per season, families will also pay $42 per child for YMCA membership. Four board members from the CYC will join the YMCA board.

The building in which the Pottstown YMCA, Pottstown, Pennsylvania, is located has been purchased by Charles Gulati, which will result in the Y remaining open despite previously announced plans to close this location on June 30. The announcement of the closing had sparked protests by some members of the community, according to The Mercury News. Gulati and his family worked with YMCA administrators and state politicians to find a way to keep the Y open. The Gulati family eventually were able to use state financing tools to buy the building, according to an article on Pottstown Patch. The building will be repaired and refurbished and will still house the YMCA health and wellness programs, including group exercise and youth sports.

As the YMCA of the Foothills, La Cañada, California, celebrates its 60th anniversary of the 1958 incorporation of its Crescenta-Cañada YMCA, it also is in the middle of an effort to raise $7 million to demolish part of the original Crescenta-Cañada facility and add 15,000-square-feet of new space plus a two-level parking deck. The Y has three facilities serving more than 30,000 members. The YMCA is  working with representatives from CCS Consulting to help it with the fundraising and to see it through the city's planning process later this year, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Eau Claire YMCA, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, plans to buy the Eau Claire Indoor Sports Center, a deal that is expected to be finalized by the end of the summer, according to an article in the Leader-Telegram. The 48,000-square-foot center offers an area with turf and another area with a sports court, as well as four volleyball courts, a batting cage and two meeting rooms. The YMCA’s gymnastics program will move to the sports center from its current location in the Y’s old tennis center.

Club Industry's YMCA briefs features recent notable openings, real estate transactions and renovations among American Y facilities. Do you have news to share with us? Send your news, tips or story ideas to [email protected]. You can also connect with us on Facebook, on Twitter @clubindustry and on LinkedIn.