YMCA Briefs: Ys Undergoing Construction in Oregon, Kentucky, Massachusetts

The Salem YMCA, Salem, Oregon, is borrowing money to kick off construction on a $20.5 million downtown facility after fundraising efforts came up short. YMCA leaders said they will be able to meet a state deadline to receive $12 million in state lottery bonds after cutting $6 million off the price for the new gym, according to the Salem Reporter. Construction is slated to begin this fall, and the new facility is scheduled to open in early 2021.

A former youth soccer coach at Simpsonville YMCA, Greenville, South Carolina, was arrested on Jan. 25 for the second time on charges of child molestation. A second unidentified victim came forward after Eduardo Mendoza's initial arrest in December 2018 and claimed the coach inappropriately touched her while he was volunteering as a youth soccer coach at the Y, according to the Greenville News. The victim said Mendoza touched her inappropriately at some time between April and September 2016. The victim was not associated with the YMCA. Mendoza remains in the Greenville County Detention Center without bond.

The Pikeville Area Family YMCA, Pikeville, Kentucky, has started construction on the first phase of its 16,000-square-foot expansion, according to the Appalachian News Express. The project will include a 1,000-square-foot weight room extension, two party rooms as well as locker rooms for men, women, families and those with special needs. The City of Pikeville is facilitating $1.5 million in funding for the construction of the replacement community pool, slated to open by Memorial Day 2020. The pool will feature six competitive lanes that meet the standards of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Community Trust Bank will facilitate a $3 million fixed loan through the Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises (FAHE) to help pay for the facility.

With the help of a $7 million tax-exempt bond, MetroWest YMCA, Framingham, Massachusetts, plans to renovate and expand its facility starting in late February. The Y is in the middle of a capital campaign to repay the bond and cover the remaining costs of the approximately $8 million project. The 53,200-square-foot facility will be overhauled with the construction of a 7,800-square-foot addition to the Y's early-learning center, according to The Boston Globe. The expansion will add a teaching kitchen as well as multipurpose exercise space for youth programs. The facility’s pool will also be renovated.

On Feb. 7, an ammonia leak occurred at the Brookfield Residential YMCA, Seton, Calgary, Canada, the world's largest YMCA. The building was evacuated, but there were no injuries, according to the Calgary Herald. The facility’s ice rinks remained closed for 24 hours after the discovery of the leak. A hazmat team investigated the leak and found ammonia levels peaking at 37 parts-per-million. The cause of the leak is still under investigation.

The South County Branch of the YMCA of Greater Providence, Rhode Island, recently installed a new functional electrical stimulation (FES) bike at its facility, according to WPRI 12. The bike helps those who suffer from neurological diseases or injuries to exercise despite their impairments. “At the end of the day, this is what the YMCA is all about,” Y CEO Steven G. O'Donnell said in a media release. “This is a place where people of all abilities can improve the quality of their lives and connect with the community.” The purchase of the bike was made possible through donations from the Y's 2018 Dancing Under the Stars event as well as a $25,000 donation from Delta Dental CEO Joe Nagle.

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 and on LinkedIn.