Crown Point YMCA Planning Major Expansion
(rendering courtesy of Crossroads YMCA)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Dean and Barbara White Southlake YMCA in Crown Point is planning a $6.5 million expansion. Our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana report the expansion includes up to three additional acres that will house two urban soccer fields and 110 yards of AstroTurf for a variety of sports, as well as a new Youth Activities Center.
The soccer fields and turf field will be located next to an existing turf field on the facility’s northeast side. Each of the soccer fields will have six goals and allow for two games to be played concurrently. They will have lights, speakers, bleacher seating and a scoreboard.
“It’s really a unique experience to be able to serve kids and families, and it’s not made for competitive soccer,” Jay Buckmaster, chief executive officer of Crossroads YMCA, told The Times. “There’s so many great competitive soccer and football teams out there. We’re really wanting to give the child that wants to try something different … a stadium feel of bleachers … and all the sounds and bells and whistles.”
The field expansion is expected to cost about $2 million and be complete in the fall.
Buckmaster says the 15,000-square-foot Youth Activities Center will replace a playground on the south side of the facility, which will be torn down. The new facility will house the Y’s gymnastics, dance, Ninja and cheer programs, according to the publication.
The YMCA’s former gymnastics center will be retooled with indoor turf, and a smaller gymnastics area will be transformed to allow for esports and makerspaces, according to Buckmaster.
The project is estimated to cost up to $4.5 million and slated for completion in late spring or early summer next year.
“It’s an investment in health and wellness and all the issues that you’re seeing today, kid’s isolation, all those pieces,” said Buckmaster. “We need to be relevant and remarkable to be able to continue to have people find this as a place where they can be healthy and active and grow and learn and build self confidence.”
Both projects still require approval from the Crown Point Plan Commission.