There is an active advisory group that is working on bringing the YMCA back to Bryan/College Station. The YMCA was the student recreation center for Texas A&M College from 1899 to 1950 when the Memorial Student Center first opened. The YMCA Building on the A&M campus has been recently restored and is used for office and classroom space.
This discussion initial discussion began when groups of active older adults (we used to call them senior citizens) and local residents who are swimming/diving enthusiasts expressed a need for a comprehensive senior center and a natatorium, a swimming and diving center with adequate spectator seating that could accommodate area high schools' teams as well as meet residents' aquatic recreation and competition needs. Karl Mooney, a Councilman for the City of College Station was among those local leaders they approached.
As the school boards and the cities looked at the possibilities it became apparent that needs for municipal facilities, and in the case of Bryan and College Station, the cost of maintaining existing and creating new infrastructure would be prohibitive for building and operating such senior/recreation centers. With limited state revenue being provided to cities' budgets, it became necessary to find a way that neither city had explored in the past to provide the growing number of residents within the Brazos Valley the quality of life they derserve and have come to expect.
Mooney listened and started his research. He found that small towns such as Hutto and Burnet were able to enjoy the presence of new YMCA facilities. In Round Rock and Cedar Park the communities created YMCAs that are thriving thanks to the many business, churches, hospitals, school districts and municipal/county partnerships that have made them a focal point.
The YMCA now uses a regional business model so that operations and costs can benefit from an economy of scale. The Y is now in 10,000 U.S. neighborhoods and 119 countries. B/CS is a part the Greater Houston Area YMCA region. During this summer the Y is working with a private contractor to conduct a study in B/CS to determine a specific location, what programs and facility components are needed in B/CS Y locations. In addition, the Y is already taking steps to re-engage with programs in partnership with Texas A&M and other programs that do not require a building but only coordination with less than a large full-time staff presence.
At this time it is not expected that any funding from the cities will be used to initiate local YMCA programs or to construct the first version YMCA facilities. Some donors have already stepped forward to make a College Station YMCA a reality within three-four years. As proposed, the YMCA in B/CS is a public/private partnership with users of Y facilities and programs paying fees for use only, not for construction, management/operations or liability costs. A study of Y fees shows that they are typically cheaper than what our municipalities are able to charge for similar programs. Again, the wide-spread presence of the Y and its operation as a non-profit make this possible. For those individuals and families who might be hard-pressed to afford YMCA participation, the Y proudly points to the fact that it does not turn anyone away for financial reasons. A generous and fair scholarship program enables qualified individuals and families to take advantage of Y programs and camps.
If you are a member of a community group, a service organization, a municipality or school district in B/CS/Brazos Valley and would like to learn more about the Y's return to our area, I suggest you contact Dr. Mooney through the City of College Station.
This discussion initial discussion began when groups of active older adults (we used to call them senior citizens) and local residents who are swimming/diving enthusiasts expressed a need for a comprehensive senior center and a natatorium, a swimming and diving center with adequate spectator seating that could accommodate area high schools' teams as well as meet residents' aquatic recreation and competition needs. Karl Mooney, a Councilman for the City of College Station was among those local leaders they approached.
As the school boards and the cities looked at the possibilities it became apparent that needs for municipal facilities, and in the case of Bryan and College Station, the cost of maintaining existing and creating new infrastructure would be prohibitive for building and operating such senior/recreation centers. With limited state revenue being provided to cities' budgets, it became necessary to find a way that neither city had explored in the past to provide the growing number of residents within the Brazos Valley the quality of life they derserve and have come to expect.
Mooney listened and started his research. He found that small towns such as Hutto and Burnet were able to enjoy the presence of new YMCA facilities. In Round Rock and Cedar Park the communities created YMCAs that are thriving thanks to the many business, churches, hospitals, school districts and municipal/county partnerships that have made them a focal point.
The YMCA now uses a regional business model so that operations and costs can benefit from an economy of scale. The Y is now in 10,000 U.S. neighborhoods and 119 countries. B/CS is a part the Greater Houston Area YMCA region. During this summer the Y is working with a private contractor to conduct a study in B/CS to determine a specific location, what programs and facility components are needed in B/CS Y locations. In addition, the Y is already taking steps to re-engage with programs in partnership with Texas A&M and other programs that do not require a building but only coordination with less than a large full-time staff presence.
At this time it is not expected that any funding from the cities will be used to initiate local YMCA programs or to construct the first version YMCA facilities. Some donors have already stepped forward to make a College Station YMCA a reality within three-four years. As proposed, the YMCA in B/CS is a public/private partnership with users of Y facilities and programs paying fees for use only, not for construction, management/operations or liability costs. A study of Y fees shows that they are typically cheaper than what our municipalities are able to charge for similar programs. Again, the wide-spread presence of the Y and its operation as a non-profit make this possible. For those individuals and families who might be hard-pressed to afford YMCA participation, the Y proudly points to the fact that it does not turn anyone away for financial reasons. A generous and fair scholarship program enables qualified individuals and families to take advantage of Y programs and camps.
If you are a member of a community group, a service organization, a municipality or school district in B/CS/Brazos Valley and would like to learn more about the Y's return to our area, I suggest you contact Dr. Mooney through the City of College Station.