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YMCA gets Knox nod
New YMCA coming to Concord Park
Dan Barile - Thu, Dec, 1, 2005
A unanimous vote by the Knox County Commission has paved the way for the YMCA of East Tennessee to build a new facility at Concord Park in Farragut, the YMCA announced.
The project includes the redevelopment of the site, by filling in the old Concord pool, adding new tennis courts and enhancing the access to the golf course and biking trails.
The commission vote gives the YMCA a renewable 25-year lease on the property and provides a permanent home for the Farragut Family YMCA, which is located at the corner of Kingston Pike and Lovell Road. Its current lease expires in 2007.
The Farragut “Y” currently has more than 1,000 members and is looking forward to more space to serve the youth, adults and families of Knox County, Y officials said.
Doug Bataille, senior director of Knox County Parks and Recreation, said the agreement is a good thing for the community and Knox County.
“There was a lot of debate,” Bataille said. “We held two public meetings and a lot of good issues were brought up. We had a huge amount of input.
“One of the concerns voiced this project addresses is the over-development of our county parks. Concord Park has five-hundred acres and only one hundred and twenty have been developed — it’s not over developed.”
Bataille added that the YMCA will afford the county recreational opportunities that otherwise could not have been realized.
“There is no funding for rec centers like other cities have,” he said. “With this partnership we can have indoor gym time for basketball, swimming and golf. The public also will have free access to the restroom facilities and the opportunity to pay a ‘daily fee’ to use the Y-M-C--A pool.”
Bataille said the county will trade services rendered by the YMCA in lieu of rent, which results in about $53,000 in trade equity.
“Another concern that was voiced,” Bataille said, “was the preservation of mountain bike trails in the park. Those will remain untouched for the most part and the Y has indicated it will look at building a bike-washing station on the grounds.”
The YMCA of East Tennessee recently celebrated its 150th anniversary in Knoxville.
“We’re delighted to offer residents of Knox County a state-of-the-art community gathering place with wellness facilities and programs designed to serve all of Knox County,” said Jim Dickson, president and CEO of the YMCA of East Tennessee. “The Y-M-C-A will provide a wide range of programs, with scholarships available in every area to make sure everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential.
“We’ve been looking for a permanent home for our Farragut members since we opened the location three years ago,” Dickson added. “Soon we’ll have a facility that will be of great service not to just West Knoxville, but all of Knox County.”
The YMCA also currently operates several childcare centers in Knox County schools in addition to their main branches.
Similar to the new Cansler YMCA in East Knoxville, plans for the new 40,000 square-foot facility will feature an indoor pool, a wellness center full of equipment, community meeting space and basketball courts in addition to a wide selection of community programs.
The YMCA will partner with the county’s basketball program to provide gym time for practice and games.
The golf course will teach indoor lessons each winter at the YMCA. The YMCA will also offer free swim lessons each Spring Break as part of the agreement.
Fund-raising will begin immediately, with groundbreaking taking place in 2006.
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