YMCA gives projected timeline for indoor aquatic facility

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The YMCA pool project, over a year in the making, now has tentative dates the community can look forward to.

After receiving the green light from the city to move forward with the project, YMCA CEO Tammy Killin looks ahead.

"Right now we're working on contracts and then behind the scenes the (final) renderings are still being developed," Killin said. "We're hoping to have that done by June, July...probably July."

The unofficial renderings include a 10-lane, 50-meter lap pool as well as a recreational/therapeutic pool. The projected 35,000-square-foot facility includes spectator seats, locker rooms, offices and on-site food and concessions.

The 50-meter lap pool will have a floating bulkhead to allow it to have 'two pools' in one.

Killin said they are working with E L Crawford Construction, Inc., Ellison-Auxier Architects and an out of town aquatic design group.

"We're trying to utilize local and throughout this whole build, we will be doing local," Killin said.

With renderings expected to be finalized by July, Killin has an optimistic goal to break ground in September. If this goal is met, the 18-month project will wrap up in the spring of 2027.

The YMCA will remain open during construction. When the facility is finished, the plan is to have it open during the same hours as the YMCA.

YMCA members will have access to the pool using their membership and day passes will be $8. St. Joseph residents will receive a $2 discount and children under 3-years-old will get in for free.

"We have financial aid here at the YMCA, which we are going to extend this into the public facility so that's no problem for us," Killin said. "If there is a financial burden for any families, the paperwork's pretty simple, they can still utilize the service for a reduced cost or for free."

In the contract with the City of St. Joseph, one of the requests from the city was for a council member to join the YMCA board. That person is unknown at this time.

"All of us coming together, we're investing at a fraction of what it would cost us to build on our own," Killin said. "It is saving money for each individual entity that's involved as opposed to them doing it separately and that's what this partnership is all about."

Fundraising will continue as the YMCA looks to add a gymnasium in phase II of the project. This addition would serve as a crash area for swim meets.