Approach
Bringing new opportunities to Whitehall residents that had been severely lacking in the past, this new location for the YMCA of Central Ohio opened its doors to big fanfare in late 2019. Starting with an existing building in Whitehall’s Community Park that had been sitting idle for years, the team designed a renovation and expansion of the facility to accommodate the needs of the community now and for years to come.
The facility is modern and bright with natural light coming into most all of the spaces. The facility houses a community hub, indoor athletic areas, a youth discovery center, a teaching kitchen, wellness center, community meeting rooms, and a 4,000 sf indoor artificial-turf field designed for youth soccer as well as other sports. In addition to fitness classes and sports programs, the YMCA offers daycare and camp programs as well as nutrition classes and partners with the local school district for after-school programming.
The project was a long-term goal for the City of Whitehall and a collaboration between the city and the YMCA. In 2020, the project received the first place award in the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association’s category of “Capital Improvement Projects – $2.5 Million and Up.” Out of thirteen winners of the OPRA project, program and event awards, the project was then honored with Governor’s Award for Parks and Recreation, which is the statewide “best in show” award. The OPRA Executive Director noted that, “The team in Whitehall identified a clear need in their community, they found a like-minded partner, and created something that will change thousands of lives in the city for years to come.”
