YMCA of Greenville unveils vision for serving Southern Greenville County through expansion of Prisma Health Family YMCA

The YMCA of Greenville unveiled its vision and conceptual site plans for the expansion of its Prisma Health Family YMCA. As one of Greenville County’s leading nonprofit health and human services organizations, the Y nurtures the potential of children through Youth Development, improves Greenville County’s well-being by promoting Healthy Living, and fosters a sense of Social Responsibility by providing opportunities to give back and support our neighbors. This expansion will position the Y to better serve the exponentially growing community in Southern Greenville County through these three focus areas.

“We are very excited about the future of the Prisma Health Family YMCA and how this expansion will help us serve even more people as the needs of our community continue to increase,” said Scot Baddley, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greenville. “We will be better able to help people prevent or reverse chronic diseases and have a better quality of life with our expanded facilities, and will help children develop new skills in a safe and nurturing environment.”

In 2012, the YMCA of Greenville purchased the property that is now the Prisma Health Family YMCA at 550 Brookwood Place in Simpsonville. With long-term growth in mind, the adjacent nine acres were purchased in 2013 so that when future population increases demanded expansion, the organization could consolidate all programming to one location.

Phase one of the expansion is focused on Youth Development to better serve the increased number of children projected to participate in the Y’s programs. Construction will begin this Fall and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2024.

It will include:

• Youth Development Programs Area – Built with a dedicated entrance, the 8,000 square foot expansion will allow for more children to participate in this branch’s afterschool and summer day camp programs. The headquarters for the South Carolina Youth in Government and YMCA of Greenville Teen Achievers programs will be located within the new expansion. Childwatch, where young children are cared for while their parents or caregivers workout, will have an additional 2,000 square feet added.
• Second Gymnasium – Due to the growing needs of Youth Development programming, an additional gymnasium (7,000 square feet) will be built for afterschool, summer day camp and youth sports.
• Additional Parking – With more members and program participants coming to the Prisma Health Family YMCA branch, an acre of additional parking will be built.
• New Building Entrance –The front entrance will be renovated to better accommodate the volume of people entering/exiting the facility.

Pending the level of funds raised during phase one, an outdoor rooftop wellness center with approximately 8,000 additional square feet of programmable space created for a variety of group exercise classes and individual workouts, will be scheduled to be built at that time, or later as funds allow.

Fellowship Greenville, a long-standing church in Greenville County, has purchased the property where the current Y Program Center at 100 Adams Mill Road in Simpsonville is located. All summer programming and activities will continue as scheduled at the YMCA Program Center, and Fall programs such as youth sports and afterschool care will be offered on the existing outdoor fields and other program sites. Transition plans for all programs held at the Program Center, including aquatic programming and lessons, will be announced later this summer.

The church’s executive pastor, Rob Marks, says, “Fellowship Greenville and the Prisma Health Family YMCA have been collaborating during this process to help ensure that we thoughtfully planned our construction timelines to minimally affect Y members and participants as programs transition to their other Simpsonville location.”

The remaining areas to be expanded are focused on Healthy Living programs and construction costs will be supported through capital development fundraising. Their order of priority will be determined, in part, through donor designated project funding. The new Healthy Living areas will be comprised of a new Beast Mode functional training area, renovations to the interior of the current facility to expand the wellness and group exercise class areas on the second floor, an outdoor strength patio, playground, and an outdoor sports complex, which includes multiple fields for youth sports and a pavilion. An expansion to the existing aquatics facility is also planned.

“It is exciting to know that we will be able serve twice as many families and individuals with the expansion of the Prisma Health Family YMCA,” said Brad Hughes, chair of the YMCA of Greenville Metro Board. “We look forward to working together with community members to help to raise the necessary funds to bring this vital expansion to life so that the Y can continue to build healthy spirits, minds and bodies for all.”

The YMCA will always deliver on its promise, through their Annual Campaign, to turn no one away who wants to participate in their programs or services, regardless of ability to pay.

About the YMCA of Greenville, SC

The YMCA of Greenville is a cause-driven non-profit organization. Our mission is, following the example of Christ, to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the potential of every youth and teen, improves the health and well-being of our community and provides opportunities to give back and help support our neighbors. Founded in 1876, the Y serves more than 70,000 people annually through programs that include after-school care, resident and day camps, aquatics, youth and adult sports, and health and wellness. Programs are offered though four family branches, as well as the Verdae YMCA, Y Camp Greenville, YMCA Judson Community Center, the YMCA Program Center, and Hollingsworth Outdoor Center. The Y is also home to Y Teen Services and the SC Youth in Government programs.

For more information about the YMCA of Greenville, visit ymcagreenville.org, or call (864) 412-0288.