YMCA Opens Big Addition at Schilling

By Ron Caldwell

While the country celebrated Memorial Day, the YMCA at Schilling Farms in Collierville had an important celebration of its own.

On Monday, local elected officials and YMCA officials gathered at the center for the grand opening of the second phase of the facility.

Since opening on May 29, 1999, the YMCA at Schilling Farms has sold more than 8,000 memberships and is selling out all of its day camps and programs. That is one of the main reasons that YMCA officials have been eagerly anticipating the official opening on Monday at 9 a.m. on the $1.3 million second phase.

After opening the first phase with 28,000 square feet, the YMCA at Schilling Farms has now open the doors to the 22,000 square foot second phase which features a double gymnasium with six basketball goals, a climbing wall, a teen fitness center, an activity room, family locker rooms, a sand volleyball court, and an outdoor walking track.

"We are about three years ahead of schedule – that is how well we have been received since opening in Collierville," said Melany Bray, the YMCA’s director of marketing and development. "Originally, we were thinking that we would have the second phase up and ready to go by 2002, but obviously the demand was there so we pushed things up quite a bit."

She added that the second phase will enable the YMCA at Schilling Farms to expand its day camp program, which will begin on Monday, while also enlarging the teen fitness program and the youth sports leagues.

"We already have more than 400 young people signed up for our day camps." said Ms. Bray.

The first phase that opened one year ago included an indoor and outdoor pool, a 5,000 square foot wellness center, and aerobics room, two racquetball courts, a nursery room, meeting rooms, a hot tub, and locker room facilities. It was a $3.7 million project.

Ms. Bray said that approximately $500,000 has already been raised toward the $1.3 million goal for the second phase.