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11/7/2019 |
General |
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Groundbreak Ceremony Date Announced for New Marion YMCA |
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The long-awaited, new YMCA facility in Marion is becoming a reality! The YMCA of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Area and the City of Marion are pleased to announce that the official groundbreaking ceremony of the new building will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. The ceremony will be held at 3740 Irish Drive, Marion; the future home of the New Marion YMCA. The event will take place, rain or shine, beginning at 11:30 a.m. with a short program at 11:45 a.m. A light lunch will be provided courtesy of Marion Hy-Vee and the community is invited to attend.
A new Marion YMCA was first conceptualized several years ago as part of the Imagine8 community visioning process. Marion residents identified the need for a new functions and fitness facility to meet the needs of the growing population. Instead of building two separate facilities, the YMCA and the City partnered to create a multi-purpose facility that meets the recreational, wellness and social needs of residents in Marion and surrounding communities. It will offer programming from both YMCA and Marion Parks and Recreation Department.
The current Marion YMCA was built over 50 years ago when the City’s population was around 12,000. Today, the population has likely surpassed 40,000. The new facility will offer over 7,000 sq. ft. of fitness space (nearly 5 times the existing amount) and will be fully ADA accessible. It will feature three full-size basketball courts, an indoor track, as well as leisure and lap swimming pools. In addition to being a functional fitness center, the facility will be a place where the community can learn, grow and connect with one another.
As with most projects of similar scope and complexity, this $20 million facility has overcome a number of obstacles. It has been made possible only through the generous support of a number of state, regional and local entities. Nearly 200 individuals and organizations have contributed to date. Now, the greater community is called upon to help push the project across the finish line. Going forward, the campaign continues to work towards its remaining $2M goal. Please visit www.NewMarionYMCA.org for project details, updates and online giving opportunities.
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