ATHENS, Tenn. — So many new members are joining that the board of the Athens YMCA is weighing expansion plans.
“We are up from 4,500 members to 5,135 members just in the past six months,” YMCA Director Lee Montgomery said.
He said the board has talked about expansion for several years, but the pressure from new members has given a push to planning.
The YMCA leases the building from Tennessee Wesleyan College. Mr. Montgomery said rumors about the Y moving out or the building being demolished are untrue.
“We want to make the most of what we have and do renovations,” he said.
Estimates for the work range from $4 million to $8 million, depending on the final plans.
The YMCA was built in the 1970s and is in good condition, he said. The pool recently was completely renovated, but it could use an added ramp for senior citizens and handicapped access, he said.
An expansion could include another gymnasium, several classrooms and more Fun Camp space for youth programs.
He said the summer youth program handles 200 children a day and desperately needs more space. He said there is only one studio room, so classes sometimes spill over into areas such as the gymnasium. And a new gym would ease overcrowding in children’s programs such as basketball, Mr. Montgomery said.
Chris Trew, a local attorney who chairs the Y’s long-range planning committee, said the board has met many times to discuss options.
“We need space,” Mr. Trew said.
He said the committee will look at ideas and try to determine if the local area will support a building plan. Then the panel would have to review architectural drawings and make a presentation to the community for a capital building fund.
“But we are not there yet,” Mr. Trew said.
YMCA board Chairwoman Marie McDonald said there’s no timeline for any project.
“We know we need it, but it is a matter of funding,” Ms. McDonald said.
BY THE NUMBERS
The Athens YMCA draws members from around the region:
Athens: 3,200
Etowah: 352
Englewood 334
Niota: 290
Calhoun: 20
Monroe County: 200
Meigs County: 220
Rhea County: 7
Bradley County: 1
Elsewhere: More than 200
Source: Athens YMCA
