The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Union Village underway
YMCA teams with schools, city on Willoughby project
The Lake County YMCA has collaborated with Willoughby-Eastlake Schools and the City of Willoughby for the development of a multiple-amenity “Union Village” expected to open around fall of 2019.
The project -- at the site of Willoughby South High School -- is three-pronged, including space for the new South High School and Willoughby Middle School, a City of Willoughby Senior Center and a new YMCA West End branch.
Union Village is designed to feature individual and shared spaces between the three parties. According to YMCA officials, the total cost is around $155 million.
“We each have our own parts of the facility that we’re building,” said Bob Diak, COO of Lake County YMCA. “Then there’s a significant shared space that’s kind of the hub of the whole thing, that’s the four-court field house and then the two-pool aquatic center.”
He mentioned that one of the pools is to be the YMCA’s multipurpose aquatic center and the other will be the schools’ competitive
pool.
“Once the new YMCA has been completed, the swim teams from North High and South High will both be able to practice and hold their swim meets in the new pool,” said Willoughby-Eastlake Superintendent Steve Thompson.
Diak also mentioned that the YMCA had taken over the before-and-after-school care from Willoughby-Eastlake Schools a few years ago and that there about 600 kids in the program.
Lake County YMCA Director of Capital Development Elizabeth TekavecSvagerko said, “That time period from 2 to 6 o’clock at
night is a high-risk period for kids... That time frame is where kids most often get in trouble.”
She highlighted that the features of the new development, including both athletic and extra-curricular, will give students more constructive outlets that can even help them become valuable employees in the future.
“That’s what we do,” Tekavec-Svagerko added. “One of the main things that the YMCA does is swimming -teaching leadership and responsibility through aquatics. It’s a natural partnership.”
Features for the new
YMCA West End will include steam and sauna rooms, strength and cardio equipment, exercise studios and the pool with lap lanes, and a “splash” area for young families.
“We actually have a very strong aquatics/fitness program system at the existing Y,” Diak said, “but it’s only a four-lane pool and most of it is deep. So people are packed in there like sardines all the time.”
Another feature of the YMCA West End includes viewing access to the pool.
Tekavec-Svagerko said, “...from the point you walk in the Y here, you’ll be able to see into our warm water
recreation pool; look into the competition swimming pool. Even from the second story wellness (area), you’ll be able to look down into the aquatics area.”
Similarly, the competition pool will have a viewing area — a second floor mezzanine for watching swim meets that will hold about 200 people.
The Willoughby senior center will feature a fitness room, gymnasium, computer library and multipurpose room. Seniors 55 and older will be able to join the center.
“In the evenings it’s open for civic groups who have meetings,” said Judean Banker, Willoughby Parks and Recreation director. She mentioned some of the groups include Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Parks and Recreation programs.
The city’s share of the Union Village cost is around $6.2 million. Banker stated that the YMCA and the senior center share a common hallway that connects to the field house.
“We’re very excited that it’s happening,” she continued. “It’s going to be a great addition to the community.”
The new high school is expected to be complete by August 2019. After completion of the high school, Willoughby Middle School will move into the old South High School.
“We are excited to be able to work collaboratively with the YMCA and the City of Willoughby on our construction projects,” Thompson said. “Both entities are currently building new facilities that will be used by local citizens of all ages for years to come. The construction of Union Village is an example of a strong school and community partnership. It is these relationships that help to make our schools and our students successful.”
The YMCA will host events for their “Y Community Campaign Kick-Off” at high school basketball games and will be offering promotional opportunities, giveaways and prizes.