July 12, 2016

Use Brings Expansion for YMCA


– The Collierville Herald –

Overwhelming response to the new YMCA at Schilling Farms is leading the organization to prepare for a $1.3 million second phase that should break ground next month.

The YMCA at Schilling Farms in Collierville had daily attendance of approximately 1,200 people during the summer and has sold 8,000 memberships after being open since May 29, according to Melany Bray of the YMCA.

"It has been phenomenal," she said. "We are definitely in the right place at the right time."

She added that the number of memberships is "two years ahead of schedule after being open for about four months."

After opening the first phase with 28,000 square feet, the YMCA at Schilling Farms is now making plans and raising the money to construct the 12,400-square-foot second phase.

The second phase will feature a gymnasium with six basketball goals, a climbing wall, locker rooms, a sand volleyball court, a multi-purpose room, more parking, an outdoor walking track, offices, and a youth fitness center.

Citing heavy participation in all programs and activities at the center, YMCA officials are confident that the second phase will come just in time.

"We are at about 1,000 participants in our programs each week out here," said Ms. Bray. "And, during the summer we had about 1,200 people each day and that does not include the 300 registered for summer day camps and the other 300 that were on a waiting list for summer day camps."

She added that 108 were signed up for youth fitness; 120 for tumbling; and, 160 for educational enrichment programs.

"We hope to begin construction in November and have the second phase ready to open by next May or June," said Ms. Bray.

The first phase, which included an indoor and outdoor pool, a 5,000-square-foot wellness center, an aerobics room, two racquetball courts, a nursery room, meeting rooms, a hot tub, and locker room facilities, was a $3.7 million project and the second phase will push the grand total for the Schilling Farms YMCA to approximately $5 million when completed, she added.