MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
The Hutchinson YMCA is kicking off the new year with a limited-time membership promotion while continuing progress on its highly anticipated new facility under construction on North Lorraine Street.
During a recent appearance on the Morning Show, YMCA CEO David Foster announced that anyone who joins the YMCA through Friday, Jan. 30 can take advantage of a zero joining fee, saving $75. The promotion applies to all adult, individual, and family memberships. Youth memberships already carry no joining fee.
Foster said the January promotion aligns with increased interest in fitness at the start of the year, but noted that YMCA membership growth remains strong year-round. The organization actually reached its highest membership levels last summer, peaking at approximately 5,100 members in July and finishing 2025 with just under 5,000 members—up dramatically from pandemic-era lows.
“We’re seeing people join for a variety of reasons,” Foster said. “New Year’s resolutions play a role, but so does the weather and the sense of community people find at the Y.”
Approximately 60 to 65 percent of YMCA members are families, with a significant portion of older adults participating through insurance-supported programs such as SilverSneakers and Silver&Fit. Foster encouraged residents to check their Medicare benefits, as many qualifying members can receive a YMCA membership at no cost.
As construction continues on the new North Lorraine facility, Foster said crews have successfully winterized the building and are now making visible progress indoors, including work on the aquatics areas. Once complete, the new YMCA is expected to more than double membership capacity.
Among the most anticipated features is a 1/7-mile indoor walking track on the second level, designed to provide year-round access for walkers seeking a climate-controlled alternative to outdoor paths, the sports arena, or the mall. The track will offer interior views of YMCA activity spaces as well as exterior views through large windows.
The new facility is also drawing attention from outside the community. Foster said local economic development leaders regularly highlight the YMCA during recruitment tours, calling it a point of pride and an asset for attracting businesses and workforce talent to Hutchinson.
In addition to facility updates, the YMCA is preparing for upcoming programming. Spring sports registration for youth dodgeball and soccer opens Monday, Jan. 26, with discounted rates available for members. Foster noted soccer participation continues to grow, fueled in part by rising national interest ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the United States.
Looking back on 2025, Foster called the year one of the most significant in the YMCA’s history, highlighted by the groundbreaking of the new facility. The opening is expected later this year and will coincide closely with the YMCA’s 150th anniversary in Hutchinson, dating back to 1876.
Residents can learn more about memberships, programs, and construction updates by visiting the Hutchinson YMCA or following the organization’s updates on social media.