TRAVERSE CITY — The Grand Traverse Bay YMCA has entered the public phase of its capital campaign and is asking community members to help fund a planned expansion project at its West campus on Silver Lake Road, with a May groundbreaking planned.
The YMCA is seeking community donations during the second phase of giving to move the project into its final stages.
The public phase uses the theme “See the Vision. Be Part of It.” and encourages community members, YMCA members and local businesses to contribute at any level.
The project cost is $13 million-plus, with $8.2 million already raised through early leadership and private gifts.
The YMCA serves 17,000 members, with another 7,000 people visiting annually for programs including swim lessons, youth sports, fitness and wellness offerings and general wellness studies for chronic disease prevention.
To launch the public phase, the YMCA is running a “Raise It Together” Giving Challenge throughout March.
The planned expansion is a 13 million-plus project to add and renovate a 50,000-square-foot space at the West campus, with features including a gymnasium with two full-size basketball courts and bleachers, a large elevated walking track, expanded fitness space, expanded Child Watch space, wellness studios, multi-purpose classrooms and additional parking.
The expansion is the first of two planned growth phases, with a premier fieldhouse facility envisioned in the future.
YMCA President and CEO Andrew Page said the West Y campus is operating at capacity.
“Each weekday afternoon, more than 100 middle school students rely on the YMCA for after-school activities,” Page said. “At the same time, seniors — our fastest-growing demographic — are joining the Y for exercise, connection and community. Expanding our facilities is no longer optional; it’s essential.”
Tim Cerny, a Grand Traverse Bay YMCA Phase 2 task force member, said his support for the project is tied to a family history with the YMCA and what he described as the organization’s role in serving people of all ages and backgrounds in Traverse City.
Community members can participate in the Raise It Together Challenge by donating, starting a peer-to-peer fundraiser or helping spread the word throughout March, the release said.