Centreville YMCA readies for outdoor pool

CENTREVILLE — Opening the newest community YMCA in Centreville in October, Robbie Gill, CEO at YMCA of the Chesapeake, presented updates to the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners regarding the Queen Anne’s County Family YMCA May 14.

Opening with 2,400 members, as of May the YMCA now has a constant stream of 6,400 members, according to Gill.

“Being a member of the Y, you can participate at any YMCA, not only the Eastern Shore but across the county,” Gill said.

The vision of the YMCA is a place for all members of the community to come together, Gill said. The YMCA does not turn anyone away due to financial limitations and currently provides about $15,000 a month in assistance, he said.

“It’s a place where everyone is kind of connected,” he said.

Queen Anne’s County Family YMCA is estimated to reach 8,000 members by the end of 2025 and with that, Gill projected the Y to give away $400,000 in assistance a year by then.

“Which equates to about one in three folks receiving assistance in some capacity,” he said

About 80 staff serve the Centreville location’s approximately 1,000 daily visitors, including members, and community partner trips including the County Active Aging Center and local schools.

“So it’s a very busy place,” he said.

The YMCA is currently addressing growing pains, including that only the front of the building is easily accessible by wheelchair, while most of the parking is in the facility’s rear, he said.

Site work has begun for the final phase for the Centreville YMCA which includes a rear parking area with an extension to Little Kidwell Avenue, an outdoor pool, and pickleball courts, Gill said.

Total cost estimates for the pool, pavilion and the site work is about $1.8 million. The Y has raised about $800,000 of the necessary funds and is confident the remaining amount could be raised in time for a groundbreaking in September, Gill said. Opening of the YMCA’s new outdoor facilities is expected in time for next Memorial Day, he said.

The entire price tag for the Centreville YMCA project was nearly $25 million through, “primarily private funding with some county help and some help from the state as well,” he said.

Gill noted the project has been an excellent example of community partnership and credited local support in bringing it to fruition.

The Queen Anne’s County Family YMCA is located at 210 Vincit Street Centreville, more information can be found at https://ymcachesapeake.org/locations/queen-annes-county-family-ymca.