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At long last, Y opens indoor pool
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WASHINGTON — An aquatic facility over a decade in the making will open to swimmers on Thursday at the Washington YMCA, representing a triumph of local campaigning, construction and fundraising efforts.
The organization held a ribbon-cutting to mark the momentous occasion Tuesday night.
“When we opened the first phase of this project, it was on June 1 of 2020 … it was during the COVID crisis, and we weren’t able to hold a grand opening,” said YMCA of Washington County CEO Amy Schulte at the event. “I think that’s OK, because that makes today even more special … this is our true grand opening for the YMCA, and I’m just really proud to have been a part of it.”
Combined with the indoor athletic facility in the same building, the new pool represents a $17 million construction project. Its completion comes months after the Y had to close its previous indoor pool, a now century-old set of swimming lanes downtown that were shorter than regulation-length for competitive events.
The new pool passed its final inspection last week, and some local swim team members and water aerobics regulars have already had a chance to test it out themselves with trial practices. Schulte, joined by Aquatics Director Samantha Van Houten and Swim Lesson Coordinator Chelsea Stottler also had the chance to dive in shortly after the final inspection.
Schulte said the water was “perfect.”
For most community members, swimming time signups started Wednesday, with the earliest time slots beginning Thursday, Dec. 12.
Schulte said the old facility’s early closure had disrupted routines for some regular swimmers. but for the most part, said community members were eager for a chance to hop back in the water. Demand is high enough that signups are, for now, limited only to registered YMCA members and donors to the pool project.
“Our swim team numbers right now are not what we would have normally seen the last couple of seasons,” she said. “But I think everyone else has just been waiting for the green light to come back and swim at the Y, so I don’t think other programs are really going to be affected by that.”
The new facility includes a lap-swimming pool, sauna, hot tub and shallow area for kids. With a total cost of $8.5 million for the aquatic center, the Y remains about $25,000 shy of its fundraising goal. Representatives previously suggested they’d pursue a loan to pay off the project costs.
Combined with the first phase of the Y’s new building, that puts the total cost at around $17 million. Schulte said the sustained community support was perhaps the biggest accomplishment of the Y in pursuit of the facility.
“My biggest feeling right now is pride,” Schulte said. “I grew up in the YMCA, my grandfather was a lifelong member of the YMCA. So being able to be a part of this fills me with a lot of pride.”
Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com
