STANWOOD — After six years of planning, fundraising, building and waiting, the Stanwood-Camano YMCA is set to open its doors Saturday.
A ribbon cutting and grand opening is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the new Y at 7213 267th St. NW.
Guests can tour the new center, see class demonstrations, swim in the pools and meet staff. The event is open to anyone, not just people with memberships.
“This is a free community celebration to recognize and thank those who helped make this new YMCA possible,” spokeswoman Colleen Temple wrote in an email.
Work to bring a YMCA to Stanwood started in 2010. Under the YMCA of Snohomish County, a local branch has been offering some programs in Stanwood for several years.
Organizers credit volunteers and donors for bringing the vision of a full center to life.
The 47,000-square-foot Y includes two pools: a six-lane lap pool and a second with a shallow area for kids and a lazy river. The Stanwood High School swim team has practiced in them. There are lifts to make the pools accessible for people with disabilities. An aquatic center was the biggest request on the community’s wish list for the building.
There also is a full-size basketball court, a second-story workout room overlooking the pools and court, and group exercise rooms, including one dedicated to spin classes. Lounge areas, child care and a full-size demonstration and teaching kitchen are part of the new center, as well. Camano Island artist Jack Archibald donated custom floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows for the entryway.
The facility was expected to cost about $22 million. As of June, the nonprofit had raised about $17 million from more than 160 donors. The organization is wrapping up its fundraising campaign for the Stanwood-Camano Y and expects to release an update next week, Temple said.
Membership sales started in May and so far more than 1,700 people have purchased one. More than 400 of those are with Silver Sneakers, a program for older adults looking to get or stay healthy.
The organization expects to provide services and programs for more than 20,000 people from Stanwood, Camano Island and Arlington.
For more information, go to ymca-snoco.org/sc or call 360-629-9622.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
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