Published: Thursday, March 11, 2010

By John Few
Madison Magazine

The new YMCA in Madison is getting closer to completion. In fact, it is scheduled to be finished even sooner than originally projected. Scott Mounts, CEO of the Heart of the Valley YMCA said the new facility on Hughes Road should be ready to open in Nov.

To help give Madison residents a better idea of what the Hogan Family YMCA in Madison will offer and look like, Mounts said they have opened a temporary office in the old post office on Hughes, across the street from Kroger’s. It will be used as a information and welcome center until the new facility is complete.

“People can come by and pick up information about the YMCA will have to offer them and sign up for memberships,” Mounts said. “We have informational packets that explain several aspects of the new facility and concept sketches to illustrate what it will look like when complete.’

The temporary office is open Mon-Fri 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sat from 8 a.m. to noon.

A 68,000 square foot facility, the new YMCA will feature an indoor water park with a pirate theme, gym, racquetball courts, outdoor facilities, fitness and wellness center, indoor walking track, teen center, multipurpose rooms and a range of other amenities.

Even though the 50 meter pool, which was in the original plans for phase one, will not be installed during the first phase, all of the support plumbing for it is being placed now. Phase 2 will be started when the membership units of the new YMCA reaches about 2,500.

“We are very excited about what this means for the YMCA and Madison,” Mounts said, who is also very involved in promoting the Madison business community as a board member for the Madison Chamber of Commerce. “We have met recently with area leaders and churches to discover ways we can be an effective community partner for Madison.”

The $15 million first phase of the project is being financed through Redstone Credit Union. Phase 2, which will include a 50-meter pool will cost an estimated $4 million.

Pearce Construction is the contractor.

For more information, go to www.ymcamadison.org or call 256-428-9622.