Our pools inspire our members to achieve their goals, whether it is a competitive athlete, first time swimmer, or member of our special needs community.
Our pools provide the opportunity to strengthen the body while building character.
Our pools are a place where the community comes together to pursue ambitions.
Our pools change the lives of everyone who just adds water.
Help us JUST ADD WATER and bring a state of the art aquatic center to Wallingford.
OUR COMMUNITY
The Y is the premier aquatics facility in town and supports almost 1,000 individuals per week. Both our four lane lap pool as well as our warm water teaching & therapy pool allow us to develop programs which serve the ever changing needs of our greater community. These pools facilitate our Safety Around Water partnership with the Spanish Community of Wallingford and the Ulbrich Boys & Girls Club, in addition to swim lessons for Benhaven School. The Y is the home for the nationally recognized competitive Dolphins Swim Team. Our commitment to the aquatics community is wide & deep and we must provide a facility that can exceed its expectations.
Over 80 years ago, the Wallingford Family YMCA opened its doors to welcome our community in its collective pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. Day after day, year after year, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to delivering lasting personal and social change to every individual, regardless of ability. Pursuits develop and needs evolve, yet our responsibility to bring together and strengthen our community has endured with clarity and purpose.
Our Y has been a cornerstone of the community since 1944. We have woven the story of how individuals and families learned to swim, prepared for school through early childcare programs, were safe and nurtured through before & after school programs, adopted healthy habits and rehabilitated from the discomfort of chronic disease. With two locations in Wallingford, it is a hub of wellness where 7,900 members come together to collectively strengthen mind, body and spirit. Each year, over 12,000 people come through the doors to connect with their “Y Family” in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. Today, our community seeks solutions to complex challenges as individuals pursue the same goals of healthy mind, body and spirit. The Y will respond with the same unwavering commitment to community wellness that inspired the establishment of our organization.
OUR NEED
Usage in both of our pools has consistently outpaced capacity throughout the last decade. Currently the YMCA rents pool space from Choate Rosemary Hall to provide program space for its programs. In addition the growing demand for water therapy classes and the benefits of water exercise has driven the vision for this project. This demand continues to increase rapidly, thus requiring a larger aquatics facility whose operations perform to the highest of standards. Each & every individual who enters our YMCA facility should have the confidence that their experience at the Y is nothing short of excellent.
WHAT AREA RESIDENTS WANT
In a recent Community Needs Assessment & Membership Feasibility Study, participants were asked how interested they are in each of 20 major YMCA programs & facilities. Of the factors tested, those most likely to attract usage are:
- Indoor Multi-Purpose Pool
- Zero Depth Entry
- Splash Pad & Water Park Features
- Lazy River & Exercise Channel
OUR PLAN
Our goal is to create a modern, vibrant, gathering place for all, providing educational opportunities, childcare, youth development, wellness and chronic disease prevention for those who live & work in Wallingford and the surrounding communities. The phased construction and fundraising plans will allow us to retain, expand and renovate both community centers, while being fiscally responsible ensuring sustainable YMCA operations. Our West Side Aquatics Facility plans include; a multi purpose pool that will feature six lap lanes, zero entry access, exercise channel/lazy river and water play and splash features, Universal/Family Locker room, Adventure Zone, Yoga Studio, new lobby and much more. See the Conceptual Plans.
OUR CASE FOR SUPPORT
Our diverse programs and services benefit all ages, all backgrounds, and all abilities. Our financial assistance program ensures no one is EVER turned away due to financial reasons. EVERYONE is welcome at the Y.
The Y has a proven history of working with strategic partners to collectively & efficiently ensure they are providing the most impact to the community. As a local leader in swim lessons, swim safety, and aquatics management, the Y is uniquely positioned to provide crucial support and expertise to other local pools.
The Y will make available a state of the art, multi purpose aquatics venue for all ages, ensuring families, adults and seniors have year-round, affordable access to aquatics – offering family time, lessons, water therapy and lap swim for exercise.
“Quality of Place” initiatives, like the Y, improve both the quality of life and economic & workforce development opportunities for a community. Research demonstrates that community centers, like the Y, that are anchors, fostering broader and more creative interaction among a variety of people – play a vital role as “social equalizers”. In a time where loneliness and social isolation is impacting the mental health of all ages, a place like the Y is critical to the wellbeing of a community.
An increase in programming and amenities will allow us to employ more people, including more teens. Our teen employment provides a foundation of leadership skills, responsibility, character-building, money management, and teamwork. Beyond just a paycheck, we are committed to providing early life experiences that will carry them into adulthood.