STANWOOD — The YMCA of Snohomish County has entered the final stretch of its six-year effort to launch programs and build a club for people who live in Stanwood and on Camano Island.
The programs have been there since 2010, with camps, classes and summer lunches for kids.
The club itself is about a third of the way done. Construction started in June and is on track to be finished this fall.
The new building is designed to be 47,000 square feet with an aquatic center, gym, weight room, exercise classrooms and areas for childcare and teen activities. Plans include two pools, a hot tub, community meeting rooms and an instructional kitchen for cooking and healthy eating classes.
It’s a $23.2 million project, including the cost of the property. The YMCA of Snohomish County bought the former Resilience Fitness building at 7213 267th St. NW, which was torn down to make way for the new Y.
The YMCA is kicking off its community campaign to raise the last $1.2 million for the project. So far, the fundraising has focused on grants and large donations. That raised nearly $12 million toward a $13.2 million goal. The other $10 million of the total project cost is funded by a $4 million anonymous contribution and $6 million in financing.
The community campaign lets everyone get involved for the last $1.2 million. All donations go toward the construction of the building. Fundraising for programs and operations is done separately year-round.
During the community campaign, another anonymous donor has offered to match donations dollar for dollar up to a total of $500,000 toward the building.
At a kick-off event Saturday, people can see designs for the club and learn more about what programs are planned there. There also will be kids activities, door prizes and refreshments. It starts at 2 p.m. in the former Studio Z location at 7009 265th St. NW.
The Stanwood-Camano Y started leasing the Studio Z space this month. Group fitness classes such as yoga and Zumba start there in February. When the new building is complete, the classes likely will move there, Stanwood-Camano Y director Mary Bredereck said.
Group exercise demonstrations are planned during the kick-off event and open house. More information about the classes is online at ymca-snoco.org/scstudio.
Memberships for the new Stanwood-Camano Y should go on sale this spring as long as the construction stays on track, Bredereck said. Prices and more details will be available soon.
The Stanwood City Council voted in April to waive $50,000 in permit fees for the Y’s construction. In return, the organization agreed to host free community swims for people who live in Stanwood and coordinate an adult sports leagues at Heritage Park.
For more information about the fundraising campaign or the new Stanwood-Camano Y, call Bredereck or development manager Dawne Wentworth at 360-629-9622 or go online to ymca-snoco.org/watchusgrow.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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