Published: Monday, June 14, 2010
YMCA sought for Stanwood
The closure of a private health club raises the need for a community-based facility, officials say.
STANWOOD — A YMCA, complete with a swimming pool, could be in the future for people here.
After a private Stanwood facility in April closed what was the area's only regulation-size pool, community leaders rallied to look for a solution, especially for students participating on school and club swim teams and for elderly residents whose only exercise is swimming.
People have long recognized the need for a community-based health and recreation facility, Stanwood Mayor Dianne White said.
Now White, Island County Commissioner John Dean, Stanwood-Camano School assistant superintendent Michael Olson, Stanwood-Camano Area Foundation director Theresa Metzger and Design Stanwood members Pearl Schaar and Dave Pelletier have met with Snohomish County YMCA operations director Ted Wenta to explore the possibility of building a “Y” in Stanwood.
This is good news, said Stanwood High School swim coach Rita Brennan.
“A YMCA offers a great long-term solution to our lack of a pool in the Stanwood-Camano area,” Brennan said. “We would love to support a Y because it's an organization that will do great things for this community.”
Snohomish County YMCA had already been eyeing Stanwood as a new location for its family programs, Wenta said.
The first step in convincing YMCA to build a new facility is a community assessment survey, Metzger said.
The survey, likely to be taken this summer, will measure the potential need for a YMCA and its programs and services. It takes about 3,000 memberships to support an average-sized YMCA with an aquatic center, a child care area, a teen activity room, a gym and a weight room, Metzger said.
The survey alone probably will cost about $25,000, and an anonymous donor has stepped forward to pay half if the community can raise the other $12,500, she said.
About 40,000 people live in the area that roughly covers the boundaries of the Stanwood-Camano School District. That should be enough people to pull from for YMCA memberships, White said.
“Our community needs a facility like this as soon as possible,” White said. “We are hopeful that positive survey results will shorten the typical two- to five-year time frame it can take to get the doors open to a new YMCA.”
Brennan said she believes the community will support the Y.
“This absolutely could work,” Brennan said. “It's time. We need an organization that the community can trust.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427, gfiege@heraldnet.com.
After a private Stanwood facility in April closed what was the area's only regulation-size pool, community leaders rallied to look for a solution, especially for students participating on school and club swim teams and for elderly residents whose only exercise is swimming.
People have long recognized the need for a community-based health and recreation facility, Stanwood Mayor Dianne White said.
Now White, Island County Commissioner John Dean, Stanwood-Camano School assistant superintendent Michael Olson, Stanwood-Camano Area Foundation director Theresa Metzger and Design Stanwood members Pearl Schaar and Dave Pelletier have met with Snohomish County YMCA operations director Ted Wenta to explore the possibility of building a “Y” in Stanwood.
This is good news, said Stanwood High School swim coach Rita Brennan.
“A YMCA offers a great long-term solution to our lack of a pool in the Stanwood-Camano area,” Brennan said. “We would love to support a Y because it's an organization that will do great things for this community.”
Snohomish County YMCA had already been eyeing Stanwood as a new location for its family programs, Wenta said.
The first step in convincing YMCA to build a new facility is a community assessment survey, Metzger said.
The survey, likely to be taken this summer, will measure the potential need for a YMCA and its programs and services. It takes about 3,000 memberships to support an average-sized YMCA with an aquatic center, a child care area, a teen activity room, a gym and a weight room, Metzger said.
The survey alone probably will cost about $25,000, and an anonymous donor has stepped forward to pay half if the community can raise the other $12,500, she said.
About 40,000 people live in the area that roughly covers the boundaries of the Stanwood-Camano School District. That should be enough people to pull from for YMCA memberships, White said.
“Our community needs a facility like this as soon as possible,” White said. “We are hopeful that positive survey results will shorten the typical two- to five-year time frame it can take to get the doors open to a new YMCA.”
Brennan said she believes the community will support the Y.
“This absolutely could work,” Brennan said. “It's time. We need an organization that the community can trust.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427, gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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