YMCA Spirit Center dedicated

GREENVILLE, SC – A dedication ceremony of the YMCA Spirit Center provided by Lillian and Ellis Darby took place on Friday, May 20, on the campus of the Caine Halter Family YMCA overlooking the Reedy River.

The scenic Spirit Center and Amphitheater overlooks the Reedy River and enhances the YMCA’s delivery of quality youth and educational programs, as well as special events. The Spirit Center also increases the Y’s capacity for outreach programs in collaboration with community partners. The venue is designed to seat 80 to 100 people and features a roomy stage area with a wooden deck and viewing platform overlooking the river. The seating area consists of terraced stone seat walls with grass walkways and landscaped with a rich mix of native plants.

“This dedication marks a special day for the YMCA. Future generations will benefit from the vision and spirit that Lillian and Ellis Darby provided with the construction of this beautiful amphitheater,” said Jamie Inman, Chief Mission Advancement Officier. “This project enhances the YMCA’s mission of youth development, building a healthier community and being socially responsible – not only to the people of Greenville – but for our environment,” Inman said.

The YMCA Spirit Center is one of several environmental elements that makes up a master plan to protect the Reedy River, educate the next generation of environmental stewards and enhance the community. In addition to the Spirit Center, other elements under construction in coordination with Friends of the Reedy River, and Greenfields Consortium include the Carol Clement Children’s Garden scheduled for a July dedication, several rain gardens, river access areas, science stations, and playgrounds. These are being constructed on the Caine Halter Family YMCA property and the Reedy River corridor as an investment in an environmental element that adds landscaping enhancements and a community gathering spot that aids in sustainability for the Reedy River that runs adjacent to the YMCA.

Donations for the additional environmental elements to restore and enhance our community are still needed and being accepted, contact Jamie Inman, (864) 242-1111 ext. 21 for more information.

Photo 1: The Darby Family at the YMCA Spirit Center dedication

Photo 2: YMCA Spirit Center ribbon cutting

About YMCA of Greenville

The YMCA of Greenville is, and always will be, dedicated to building healthy, confident, connected and secure children, adults, families and communities. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the potential of every youth and teen, improves Greenville’s health and well-being and provides opportunities to give back and support neighbors. The YMCA provides programs and services to all people by offering sliding scale scholarships for those with financial need. Begun in 1876, the Y serves more than 65,000 people annually through programs that include Afterschool, Resident Camp and Day Camp, Aquatics, Youth and Adult Sports, and Health and Wellness. Programs are offered through four family branches, the Verdae YMCA, Y Camp Greenville, Judson Community Center, the Y Program Center-GHS and Hollingsworth Outdoor Center. The Y is also home to Y Teen Services and the SC Youth in Government program. For more information about the YMCA of Greenville, visit ymcagreenville.org, or call (864) 242-1111.

About Friends of the Reedy River (FoRR)

The Friends of the Reedy River (FoRR), is an all-volunteer non-profit conservation organization that focuses its efforts on the health of the Reedy River. FoRR is interested in improving water quality and water quantity, and returning the riverbank, or more technically, the riparian buffer, back to its native ecology by the elimination of invasive plant species and replanting with indigenous plants which are native to the region. The mission of Friends is to educate the community on the importance of the Reedy River, to advocate for its continued protection and restoration, and to activate the community to get engaged in these endeavors.

With these goals in mind, several years ago the FoRR Board of Directors voted to adopt a corridor along the river and the Swamp Rabbit Trail from Faris Road to Woodland Way Circle. This mile long stretch is called the Woodland Way Corridor. This corridor is bordered by older established properties such as the former Cleveland Park Stables, this Caine Halter Family YMCA, and First Baptist Church Greenville. The vision for this corridor is to be a community-wide model of river and riverside restoration. FoRR wants to demonstrate that retrofit options are available for river restoration in developed areas and can be a model for water stewardship and sustainable watershed management practices.

As the downtown community of Greenville becomes more urbanized and developed, the river is put under increased stresses. One of the biggest issues is storm water runoff. This is the water after a heavy rain from rooftops, gutters, and storm drains which are designed to move the water away as rapidly as possible. This water which flushes into the river carries with it bacteria, pesticides, pet waste, fertilizer and anything else in its path. Erosion and sediment problems are also direct results of storm water runoff. Together with a loss of the native ecology, these all combine to create a cauldron of negative influences which contribute to a degraded river system that cannot adequately support aquatic life and which can lead to significant downstream problems.