GIVE.BUILD.GROW

The Springfield YMCA is growing!

For more photos and construction updates, please go to our photo gallery.

Why a new Springfield YMCA branch?
In 2006, the Springfield YMCA conducted a market research study to ensure we were keeping pace with our community’s wants and needs. Here is what we learned:

81 percent of residents in the Springfield YMCA community do not currently hold fitness club memberships.

•  When area residents with children under the age of 12 were asked what they want most from the YMCA, the most frequent response was “better aquatics programming.”
•  When area residents with teenage children were asked what they want most from the YMCA, again, the most frequent response was “better aquatics programming.”
• When area adult residents were asked what they want most from the YMCA, the most frequent response was increased “fitness/personal fitness” programs with “better aquatics programming” a very close second.

• By 2012, the number of households within a three-mile radius of the Southwest YMCA facility will be nearly 15,000.
• Conservative estimates show the Southwest YMCA facility will add over 3,000 new memberships to the Springfield YMCA.

Armed with the research data, and recognizing the importance of our downtown branch to many of our members, the decision was made to start a capital campaign to build another facility. We are not building a facility to replace the downtown branch. We are building a facility to increase and enhance all of the programs and activities the Springfield YMCA has to offer from swim lessons to Zumba classes!

The Springfield YMCA’s mission is to “build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.” What better way to meet and enhance our mission than to bring more YMCA programs to more families in our community.

Let’s build a new Springfield YMCA!

What we are building!
A 64,000 square foot facility. The YMCA will use 53,000 square feet and our partner, Memorial SportsCare, will have an 11,000 square foot facility inside the YMCA. What a great partnership.

• An 8-lane instructional/lap pool for swim lessons, continuous lap swimming and more space for our world-class swim team; the largest team south of I-80 in Illinois.
• The only zero entry, warm water, family-fun therapy pool. The pool has two separate areas detached from the instructional pool. The therapy pool has 3 additional lanes for swimming or walking. The zero entry pool (read: absolutely no steps, you just walk right in) has a circle walking path.
• A 6,200 square foot cardio fitness center.
• A full size gymnasium capable of hosting two cross-court games.
• An aerobics/yoga/multipurpose exercise studio.
• Steam room and sauna in both men’s and women’s locker rooms.
• Separate family and special needs locker facilities.
• Child watch center with playground.
• Areas for preschool, kindergarten and grade school programming.
• Ample free parking!!

The Y is much more than its facilities. 

With a dedicated staff and volunteers, we serve our community in so many ways, including:

• In 2009, YMCA services and programs enhanced the lives of nearly 31,000 people in our community.
• In 2009, our YMCA provided more than $290,000 of subsidized program services to individuals and families with limited financial resources.
• More than 1,013 volunteers contributed their time and talents in 2009 to ensure successful programs at our Y. Our volunteers put in 22,252 hours of service.
• The Y provided financial assistance for 2,996 memberships and 180 camp scholarships to youth who otherwise could not afford to participate in 2009.
• All YMCA youth programs emphasize sportsmanship and the four core values of the Y: caring, honesty, responsibility and respect. In our competitive programs, all athletes are guaranteed to play half of the game regardless of skill.
• The YMCA soccer program is 3,000 kids strong with nearly 300 volunteer coaches and referees. The soccer program begins at age 4. We supervise 135 soccer teams in our area. The nearest competitor is the Springfield Area Soccer Association (SASA) with 30 teams.
• Additional competitive youth sports programs include:
       Baseball-210 participants ages 4-8
       Basketball-400 participants ages 4-12
       Flag Football-225 participants ages 4-12
• Y Adult fitness programs serve over 3,300 individuals.
• Over 400 youth participate in many special interest programs including gymnastics, Tae Kwon Do and karate, fitness, ballet, sign language and art classes.
• Swimming Programs
  YMCA served over 500 individuals, infant through adult, in swim lesson in each  of six sessions throughout 2009. 
  Our swim programs serve the special needs and home-school community in Springfield. 
  Additional water fitness programs such as aqua chi, aqua Zumba and deep water arthritis classes reach more people.
  We have the only aqua Zumba class offered in Springfield. 
  The Y has the largest lifeguard training program in Springfield.
• Springfield YMCA Swim Team (SPY):
  Over 140 youth ages 5-18 participate in SPY. 
  SPY is the largest YMCA swim team south of Interstate 80. 
  Swimmers who compete for SPY stay on the team until they choose to leave; they cannot be “bumped” by a faster swimmer. 
  SPY offers winter and summer seasons with mini-seasons in the spring and fall.

When will the new YMCA branch be completed?
We began moving dirt and preparing the site in late August. We anticipate a 15-month building schedule if the weather cooperates.  We need your support to ensure the longevity, long term stability and viability of the Y in Springfield. Please pledge your support now by going to the DONATE NOW button or call the YMCA at 544-9846, ext. 16 if you would like more information.

Dan Dungan, Chair
Lucy Bagot
Bob Barker
Grady Chronister
Phil Gonet
Karla Kunzeman
Michael Leathers
Douglas McDonald
Steve Patton
Tom Pavlik
Bud Potter
Guerry Suggs
Don Tracy
Larry Wedding