Groundbreaking set for new YMCA

BY CORTNEY L. HILL
SALISBURY POST

By spring 2003, Rowan County residents will be breaking a sweat in a new state-of-the-art YMCA.

Leaders and supporters will gather at 3 p.m. Jan. 6 at 828 Jake Alexander Boulevard to officially break ground on the Salisbury Family YMCA. The public is invited.

Edward Norvell, chairman of the YMCA’s capital campaign, said the new YMCA, to be built at the site of the former Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, would have been Rowan County’s fifth YMCA.

But First Baptist Church bought the current Salisbury YMCA at 220 N. Fulton St., to use for Sunday school classes and a youth center.

Norvell said Salisbury has outgrown the 50-year-old building on North Fulton, and money from the sale will help build the new Y.

Construction will begin early next month, and officials expect to complete it in the spring of 2003. More than 100 volunteers worked with division leaders to try to raise $10-million. They reached $9.5 million.

Sandy Flowers, executive director at the Salisbury YMCA, said Shelco, the contractor, bid $300,000 less than Y officials budgeted.

“Since that figure is substantially less than what we had in mind, we definitely have all of the funds we need to begin the construction work,” Flowers said.

Wade Rouzer, president of the Salisbury Family YMCA Board of Managers for two years, said the slowed economy held the construction price down.

The low bid “allowed us to meet our goal and build one of the best Ys in the state.” Rouzer said.

Rouzer said the new YMCA will be the largest in the county.

“I just want to thank the people of Rowan County who supported our efforts,” Rouzer said. “I can definitely tell that our supporters take pride in our mission and believe in our Judeo-Christian beliefs.”

Norvell and John Henderlite served as the general co-chairs of the campaign cabinet, and James F. Hurley Jr. was honorary chairman.

The new YMCA will cover 78,143 square feet and sit on 11 acres of land.

The facility will be the first in the county with two indoor swimming pools. A warm water pool will be considered the “family fun” pool, Flowers said.

The other will be a cool water pool for competition purposes for various teams. For the first time, Rowan County will be able to host state swim meets.

Other features include:

• An outdoor “aquatic splash pool” designed for children and families.
• Two basketball courts with a three-lane indoor walking/running track above the gym.
• Fitness center, with state-of-the-art cardiovascular and weight equipment, aerobics room and cardiovascular theater.
• Two handball/racquetball courts.
• Indoor climbing wall.
• Youth/teen center.
• Preschool/youth indoor gym area.
• Multi-purpose meeting room and chapel.
• Adult locker rooms, with saunas and steamrooms, family locker rooms and special-needs locker rooms.
• An outdoor playground and ballfields.

Contact Cortney L. Hill at 704-797-4249 or chill@salisburypost.com