Pictured, from left, are David Findlay, Lake City Bank; Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer; Rich Haddad, K-21 Foundation; Chad Zaucha, YMCA CEO; Mike Coon, president, YMCA board; Phillip Smith, vice president, Parkview Health; Mike Getz, YMCA building committee chairman; Jim Gill, director of public relations, Zimmer; Paul Voorhorst, Depuy and YMCA fundraiser committee member; Alan Alderfer, YMCA fundraiser committee member; and Mark Dobson, president and CEO, Kosciusko Warsaw Chamber of Commerce.

YMCA broke ground on its new $13.1 million building the morning of Jan. 9 in Warsaw. The facility is expected to open in November.

Officials at the Kosciusko Community YMCA, alongside community leaders, volunteers, donors, members and invited guests, officially broke ground on the new Parkview Warsaw YMCA at U.S. 30 and Mariner Drive this morning.

“This is a big day for our community,” said Mike Coon, YMCA board president. “We’ve been planning this new Y for years, knowing the tremendous impact it will have on the kids, families, adults and businesses who call Warsaw home. This project is about so much more than a building; it’s about our commitment to our community for generations to come.”

The 70,000-square-foot facility will include a health and wellness center, lap pool, instructional warm water pool, multi-purpose gathering spaces, a youth and teen center, a double gymnasium and outdoor space for day camp. As part of their partnership, Parkview Health and the YMCA will share space within the facility where Parkview Health will provide and offer health and wellness services and programs for area residents.

In June, the Y had raised $12 million toward their $13.1 million capital campaign goal and announced the public phase of the campaign to build the new facility. Since then, the community – coupled with matching grants from the Dekko Foundation and an anonymous source – has donated more than $1 million.

“We are so grateful for the support of the businesses, foundations, families and individuals who have ensured we raised enough to celebrate this official groundbreaking. However, we are still seeking contributions to ensure the new facility will be all we’ve envisioned for our community,” said YMCA CEO Chad Zaucha. “We can do so much more together.”

“This new facility will benefit so many people in Kosciusko County,” said Rich Haddad, President, K21 Health Foundation. “We believe a growing and vibrant Y will change the way our community addresses health and wellbeing. The Y is a place for all ages and abiliities to find support for a healthier lifestyle. This new Y will help reach even more people.” 

Facility renderings, construction updates, campaign news and information on how to donate to the Shaping The Future Campaign can be found at www.kcymca.org.