SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Over 150 people were on hand for the groundbreaking of the new Hutchinson YMCA branch on Wednesday afternoon.
The new location is at the northeast intersection of 20th Avenue and Lorraine Street, replacing the current site at 716 E. 13th Ave. The 9.9 acres of land that the YMCA will be able to utilize was donated by Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System.
The timeline is for the branch to be finished and operable in 18 months.
The 75,000-square-foot branch will include an aquatics center, indoor track, gymnasium, expanded gymnastics center, fitness center with studios, community room, additional places for families to connect and programs that provide safe spaces for youth.
Benjamin Anderson, the President and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System spoke about how he first became a member at the YMCA, as a child, and has been so thankful and supportive for all of the memories he's had at the Y over the years.
"We, as our board, voted to donate the land for this new YMCA, is that, this is the front door of the future healthcare delivery system in Reno County," Anderson said. "People will begin behind us, and in so far as they need medical care beyond that, we have partners to the east that we'll be able to work with. So it is an honor to be part of this, it's an honor on behalf of our health system to see this come to reality, I want to just think the YMCA for an opportunity to move forward."
Ronn McMahon, the President and CEO of the Greater Wichita YMCA says one of the main attractions for the new Y will be the aquatic center.
"We're designing it specifically so we can have swim meets and have a little more room to spread out and have more supporters," McMahon said. "It's pretty cramped over at the current Y, so this will be huge when hosting high school and other swim meets."
Mayor Greg Fast spoke to the audience about his experiences with the YMCA, where he learned to swim, earned many merit badges and helped shape his values and friendships and service for others. Fast also talked about many of his family members that have worked at the Y.
"So when I think about this new facility, I can't help but imagine the countless families who will create similar memories here, swimming their first laps, finding community and growing in ways that will shape their lives as well," Fast said. "This new $30 million YMCA isn't just a building, it's a symbol of what we can achieve when we come together. In our city, it's clear that the more we work together, the more great things happen. This YMCA is a shining example of that. It's a good thing and it's a God thing. It's a proud moment for everybody here."
YMCA board chair Mike Folks, who moved to Hutchinson a few years ago. spoke about the positive impacts the Y has had on his family.
"I want to thank the past and the current board members for their time, for their commitment, for their leadership and most importantly for the decision that they made to merge with the Greater Wichita Y," Folks said. "The impact that it's going to have on our local youth and all youth of Reno County. As community leaders, it is our responsibility to provide socially acceptable activities and events for today's youth. We know this YMCA is going to provide healthy life choices for that generation and many generations to come."
Bob Fee talked about some of the history of the Hutchinson YMCA, which dates back to 1876.
"Over the years, the YMCA has had some fantastic partnerships with so many great organizations in our community," Fee said. "1964, as a result of the USD 308 deciding to build a new high school, our current Hutchinson High School, they invited the YMCA to build a new building, housing a swimming pool right next door to them. They offered land for a 99-year lease for $1. That enabled the high school to have a pool, without having to build and maintain a pool, that would be up to the Y, that was one of the first partnerships that we began and that was back in the 60s. In 1998, the YMCA underwent a major renovation and addition, that included a new swimming pool, we needed a new partnership and needed to complete our funding. We called on the city of Hutchinson to see if they could help us, and they did. They stepped up in their partnership and helped provide the final funding to put us over the top. This is an exciting day, the Hutchinson YMCA has so many partnerships, new and old, and those will continue, but today we're so very proud to have the new partnership with Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System."
McMahon was thrilled with the attendance of over 150 individuals, the largest groundbreaking ceremony he can recall in over 20-plus years.
"We're going to build an amazing YMCA facility here," McMahon said. "In fact, Schaeffer Architecture and Simpson, I can guarantee you they will make it one of the finer YMCAs in the entire country, for sure. There are going to be so many kids that are going to win their first ribbon or medal for playing basketball, and they're going to lose, and they're going to be surrounded by caring adults that instill YMCA values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility."
