YMCA of Garner is One Step Closer to Putting Down Permanent Roots

Facility will be named for local family, breaking ground as early as Jan. 2016

Thanks to the support of the community, the YMCA of Garner is one step closer to building its permanent home off Aversboro Road. YMCA leaders and volunteers gathered at White Deer Park today to announce the start of a public campaign to fully fund the future Poole Family YMCA in Garner. 
 
The facility will be named in recognition of Lonnie and Carol Poole and their generous support of the capital campaign to build a YMCA in Garner.
 
“Lonnie and Carol Poole believe in the life-changing work the Y does,” said Melissa Oliver, Branch Director of the YMCA of Garner. “We are so grateful for their support and for the support of others in our community who have made it possible for us to launch our public campaign.”
 
To date, the capital campaign has raised $5.5 million. The public campaign aims to raise an additional $1.5 million to break ground on the facility. The Poole Family YMCA will be approximately 30,000-sq.-ft. and have the capacity to serve 5,000 members of the Garner community. The facility will include:

• 4,500-sq.ft. Wellness Center

• Men’s and Women’s Locker Rooms

• Nursery/Kids’ Adventure Area

• Outdoor Aquatics Center

• Indoor Track

• Group Exercise Studios

• Gymnasium and Youth Program Space

 
The land for the facility was donated by the Bell and Holding families in 1974. The property is located on Aversboro Road in the heart of Garner, adjacent to White Deer Park and across the street from Lake Benson Park.
 
“The YMCA is firmly focused on improving each person’s spirit, mind and body,” the Bell family said in a statement. “It truly strengthens the foundations of each community through health, wellness and service. This is an important investment in the future of Garner.”
 
The roots of the YMCA of Garner date back to 1998 when the YMCA of the Triangle established a YMCA program center in Garner. Currently, the program center serves more than 1,100 children at 11 sites throughout the community. Today, program leaders rely on local schools and community centers for the space to offer after school, day camp, sports, teen and year-round track out programs.
 
“The Poole Family YMCA, once built, will serve our community in so many positive ways,” Oliver said. “It will be a permanent home for our youth programs and increase our ability to serve Garner with health and wellness programs – allowing us to make an even bigger impact right here at home.”
 
When funds from the public campaign are committed, construction will begin. Y leaders hope to break ground on the new facility as early as January 2016.
 
The YMCA of Garner is a branch of the YMCA of the Triangle. For more information on how you can support the Poole Family YMCA campaign, please visit www.YMCATriangle.org/GrowGarner.