<a href="http://www.gtherald.com/local/local_story_197191726.html">'Big Splash' for new YMCA facility</a>

By LISA PERKINS
lperkins@record-eagle.com

July 15, 2008 07:26 pm

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TRAVERSE CITY -- Die-hard supporters of the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA make good use of their current facility -- but are looking forward to taking full advantage of the proposed new amenities.

The new YMCA, planned to include a swimming pool, day care facilities, running track, child play area, tennis courts, gymnasium, work out area as well as a place for baby-sitting and a teen center, will replace the current facility located on Racquet Club Drive in Traverse City.

"Our current building is simply at the end of its useful life," said Tom Van Deinse, chief executive officer of the local club.

"One end is actually sinking into the swamp, and even in our current location we get about 700 users in the building every day," Van Deinse said.

With plans for the new facility complete, fundraising efforts for the building to be located on Silver Lake Road, just south of Traverse City West Junior High, are kicking into high gear.

"We are completely on a fundraising timetable, not a building timetable at this point," said Van Deinse who indicated that $4.6 million of the required $11.2 million has already been raised. He is hoping that as community awareness of the project is raised, so to will be funds.

To that end the Grand Traverse Bay YMCA will host "The Big Splash," a celebration marking the beginning of the public awareness phase of the new YMCA capital campaign. The Big Splash will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., today at the future building site, located at the former home of Oleson's Food Stores' buffalo herd.

"This is our way of publicly celebrating the region's commitment to building a new YMCA," said Van Deinse. In addition to games and rides for children, YMCA staff and officials will be on hand to review plans for the new facility and respond to questions.

"There are so many facets that will be important to the whole community, not just to kids, but families and senior citizens. It will be wonderful to have a new, fresh, clean and spacious facility for everyone," said Lynn Schultz, who has been a local YMCA board member for four years.

"Of course, the Teach Every Kid to Swim initiative is so important, and how wonderful it will be to have the pool facility available for that program," Schultz noted.

Teaching every child to swim is just one of the goals board members considered before deciding to pursue the building of a new facility.

"We want this to be a family recreation facility with something for everyone in a safe place for teens to spend their evenings to the 65 programs currently offered to more than 11,000 participants.

"We have a mission to provide teen programs every Friday and Saturday night throughout the year. We have made a good start at it, but with the current facility we have not been able to meet that goal," Van Deinse said.

Eighteen-year-old Kristen Marsh of Traverse City, a member of the Y for three years, hopes that the new Y will be able to draw in even more people to participate in the wide variety of programs.

"They already have so much to offer, with a new big place, the Y will really be able to grow," said Marsh, who plays tennis at the current facility three to four times a week.

Growing the Y's service to the community is the ultimate goal of Van Deinse and his fellow board members.

"I think we will be a success from the day we open our doors," he said.

A special building fund has been set up at the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation to handle gifts to the campaign. For more information, call 935-4066 or visit www.4good4ever.org. For more information on Grand Traverse Bay YMCA programs, call 933-9622.

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