FALMOUTH – A major effort is underway on the Upper Cape to create a state-of-the-art YMCA facility in Falmouth.
YMCA Cape Cod and Falmouth Aquatics have signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining plans for a facility that delivers programs and services for the communities of Falmouth, Mashpee, Bourne and Sandwich.
YMCA President and CEO Stacie Peugh said there is a need for several health and wellness programs, along with aquatic programs.
“Year-round swimming for children and adults of all ages and programs for youth and teens are the core areas where we want to provide spaces for,” said Peugh.
“We see a lot of opportunity for multi-purpose space that can adapt to the changing needs of the community over time.”
Falmouth Aquatics chair Jim Preisig said there great synergy between the respective visions of both organizations.
“We are bringing those together,” he said.
“We have different areas of emphasis – just different areas that we have dived into deeply, and this is going to enable us to do more for the Upper Cape.”
When it comes to swimming programs, Preisig said there are significant needs on the Upper Cape in the areas of wellness, recreational, instructional and competitive.
“From an aquatics point of view we need to be able to provide a very broad spectrum – cradle to the grave as we say – aquatics,” he said.
“And that merges very well with the broader vision of the needs in the community that the YMCA has.”
The effort will combine the results of over 6 years of background work done by both organizations. The programs and services offered will meet the local needs in the four towns as studied by both organizations.
Peugh says the organizations will require a $13-$15 million capital campaign.
“We are in the midst of building a leadership cabinet that will pull this into the community,” Peugh said. “Finding the right people to lead this effort as volunteers that believe in this and are willing to put time, treasure and talent behind the effort is what we are focused on right now. Finding the right people!”
Both organizations agree to unite their efforts under the YMCA structure and the facility will be established as a branch of the YMCA Cape Cod.
Falmouth Aquatics joins the YMCA structure with three dedicated seats on the YMCA Board of Directors with additional volunteer participation in all relevant YMCA board committees, including the Falmouth YMCA Facility Development Committee, Finance Committee and Fundraising Planning Committee.
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
