ymca opens shelton branch

What started out over 20 years ago as the vision of volunteers and community members to create positive youth and family activities in Shelton is now a reality. On March 1, 2021, the Shelton Family YMCA opened its doors.

Creating a ‘Place for all to Belong’ for the Shelton community during a pandemic was not ideal, but the local team persevered and overcame. Local autonomy within a massive organization like the YMCA allowed them to set goals and plan the design for the new YMCA facility located on North Shelton Springs Road.

According to Jake Grater, Executive Director of Branch Operations, “Our design goals were simple. Build something that brings the entire community together and creates a sense of belonging.” Layer that on top of the local and national organization’s goals of diversity and inclusion, and the team created a space that is welcoming and engaging.

“We were fortunate to have the experience of 2,700 other YMCA’s across the country. We created a space that is an open concept, yet an intimate space,” said Grater. The design utilizes lots of imagery to make people feel like the space was built for them.

Since it was founded in 1844, the Y has constantly evolved to meet the unique needs in each of the communities it serves. “This commitment to serving all people is core to who we are and our mission,” added Grater.

The new Shelton YMCA is an efficient building designed to minimize operating expenses. This approach allows the team to deploy resources towards mission work instead of maintenance work. For example, there is no carpeting in the building, which allows for better hygiene, easier cleaning, and no long-term replacement expense.

As the first YMCA in the area, the Shelton Family YMCA joins three other Y branches within the South Sound Association, which includes the Plum Street Y, the Briggs Community Y, and the Youth & Community Development Branch, which is affectionately referred to as ‘the Y without

walls.’ vLYNN CASTLE

For Additional Information southsoundymca.org

22 SHOWCASE MAGAZINE