Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - YMCA renovates and expands current facility - 9/20/2001vnNIZ"iI'- N'S
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Apple Valley/Rosemount, Eaga
TwoEagan
teen centers
proposed
YMCA, CAN present optlons Ca
C Pt C.vvc-
By Sue Hega y
M nesota Sun Pubications 4-65cp
Two separate teen center
proposals were presented to
the Eagan City Council last
week during a March 24 work
session.
The first in-
volves a
$300,000 reno-
vation and ex-
pansion of the
Southwest Area
YMCA in north-
east Eagan. The
second proposal
originated with a group of
teenagers who comprise a youth
organization called Community
Alliance Network (CAN) which
has been meeting for several
months.
The YMCA teen center would
be housed in 1,300 square feet of
the proposed addition.
Teenagers would have access to
a gym and computer lab facili-
ties, as well as a room to just
"hang out," said YMCA Execu-
tive Director Tim Staley. They
would not have to be a member
to use the teen center, but there
would be a $25 annual fee for
non-members.
Membership at the YMCA ex-
ceeds 7,000 members. About 80
percent are Eagan families.
"But the one area we don't
have room for is the teens,"
Staley said.
There are more than 700
teenagers that are members of
the YMCA and another 300
have been involved as non-
members in activities such as
Teen Nights. Teenagers com-
prise about 11 percent o. the
users of the facility, at 55(1 Op-
perman Drive.
TEENS: To Pa
r vJ 1 yr r as a:. a v IJ% rate,
YMCA expected to select
new site for Eagan center
By Terrance Memel
Construction on the
Southwest -Eagan YMCA
hasn't begun and already it
appears to be on the move.
YMCA officials are ex-
pected to announce plans for
moving the YMCA site once
final details are worked out
by next week. The favored
new site is on the east side of
Highway 149 at Wescott
Road.
The Greater St. Paul Area
YMCA originally planned to
build an Eagan -Southwest
area center on a 10-acre site
donated in September by
West Publishing. The site on
the southeast corner of
Yankee Doodle and Elrene
roads has been graded, but
the title has not been
transferred to the YMCA.
A development dispute bet-
ween West Publishing and
Gopher Smelting has delayed
the transaction. Gopher
Smelting objected to the
building of a YMCA, citing its
right of first refusal for what
is built on the 10 acres. (West
Publishing had purchased the
site from Gopher Smelting in
1987J
Gopher Smelting officials
have said they are concerned
about having a YMCA day
care center near its lead bat-
tery recycling center.
"Because of perception, we
are considering finding
another site," said Pendy
Eliou, area YMCA coor-
dinator, speaking at an
Eagan Chamber of Com-
merce meeting Jan. 16.
The YMCA and West
Publishing have undertaken
environmental testing of the
area. West Publishing would
continue its involvement with
the YMCA, which included a
$500,000 gift, should a new site
be selected.
YMCA: To next page
N
Lal y, 1LU11111G JalU, 41G 0I.1 GGI. YYgJ
constructed to extend to Diffley
111,G, 1LU1UUc Jcttu.
YMCA
From Page 1A
Plans call for a 42,000
square -foot center with an in-
door pool, gymnasium,
fitness area and other
meeting rooms. A day care
center and three ballfields
also are part of the two-phase
plan.
The center will become one
of 11 centers for the Greater
St. Paul Area YMCA. The
search for a site began three
years ago when YMCA of-
ficials selected Eagan as its
site. YMCA programs were
first offered Eagan residents
in 1977, but were housed in
rented space.
"We feel our programs will
give this area a sense of com-
munity. The YMCA can serve
as a focal point (for the com-
munity)," Eliou said.
DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE September 20, 2001 9A
Eagan YMCA renovates, expands current facility
by Erin Johnson
Staff Writer
Eagan's YMCA is in the
process of a $2.2 million reno-
vation and expansion that will
add 17,000 square feet to its
current facility.
The major undertaking was
prompted by the tremendous
growth the facility has seen
since it opened seven years
ago, said Program Executive
Brian Hubbard.
"This facility has been
around for about seven years,
and we have seen incredible
success," he said. "The com-
munity has absolutely
embraced what we're all
about, and so that means we
just continue to grow — the
number of programs, the
demands as well as the number
of members. It just continues
to grow and grow"
The Eagan facility currently
has about 12,000 members,
Hubbard said, not including
child-care members.
The project includes the
addition of five classrooms, a
larger lobby and lounge with a
fireplace and seating area and
two new playground areas.
Locker rooms specifically for
boys and girls will be added
plus one more family locker
room.
The facility's Child Watch
area, where members drop off
their children while they use
the facilities, and the child-
care area, a licensed daycare
and evening -care area, are also
being expanded.
The child-care center has
had a full waiting list almost
since it opened, Hubbard said.
The current child-care center
is licensed to handle 120 kids;
the new child-care area will be
licensed for 190 kids.
"We know the need for
affordable, quality child care
just continues to grow and
Construction crews work to add on the new portion of the Eagan YMCA. the facility is adding
17,000 square feet to the current facility. Photo by Erin Johnson
grow," he said.
A good part of the project is
already completed, including
the freshly -painted teen center,
the expanded front lobby and a
new office area.
The facility closed its doors
the week of Sept. 3 to refinish
See YMCA, 10A
A
half mile and eradec civtw-
-dons.
over the loot -• --- •
YMCA/From 9A
the gym floor, paint and recarpet
the whole facility, drain and clean
the pools and add fans to the fit-
ness studio. Landscaping and the
new, front playground area are
expected to be completed this
week.
The project started in June and
Hubbard said it will be completed
by the first of the year. The second
playground area will be complet-
ed next spring.
Volunteers have been conduct-
ing a capital campaign to raise
funds the project, talking to local
businesses and community mem-
bers about contributing money to
the project.
Funds accumulated from this
and last year's operating budget
are also being used for the reno-
vation and expansion, but dona-
tions from the community are
always welcome, Hubbard said.
Conununity reaction to the
project has been positive, he said..
"Everybody has been very
excited about the change. I have
been very impressed and appre-
ciative that the members and the
child-care families have been very
understanding," he said. "We've
been jockeying people around
even by the minute as the con-
struction workers are trying to
meet their timelines, and people
have just been very patient and
understanding?'