Brian Haines, the district vice president of operations for the YMCA of Greater Houston, said the goal is to raise $2.4 million, about 20 percent, for the planned 41,000-square-foot, two-story YMCA. The new facility will sit south of I-10 in the Katy Main Street development west of Pin Oak Road.
“The connection to families and the outreach to the community is what is most exciting about the building of this second Y,” said Leonard Merrell, campaign chair and YMCA board of directors member.
Haines said reserve funds from the YMCA of Greater Houston will help pay for the rest of the facility, which he said will be paid back.Haines said construction on the new YMCA would begin in January and open in fall 2016 if the rest of the fundraising goal can be met.
The existing Katy YMCA located at 22807 Westheimer Parkway serves about 50,000 people. The new facility will mitigate the membership growth over the next few years, Haines said.
“This [existing] building was built in 2001, and we’ve expanded twice. It’s [a] very active Y,” Haines said.
It was determined after some evaluation that rather than expand again, it would be better to build a new Y, Haines said.
The second YMCA is expected to serve about 30,000 people after three years, he said.
The new YMCA’s features will include a wellness center and additional exercise space and amenities which the existing facility does not have.
Haines said members will have the option to transfer their membership to the new YMCA.
“We believe that the Y could be the cornerstone of any growing community, whether it’s health and wellness needs of the district, to recreation to just the outreach work that we do,” Haines said.
He said the YMCA is working on several programs, including one to eliminate drowning and another for diabetes and youth obesity risk prevention.
“We know that the building is just a tool to get all these things done, and that’s what we’re really about is making an impact in people’s lives and strengthening the foundations of our community,” Haines said.
