YMCA proposes new Town Center aquatic complex and offers to operate Palm Coast pool; asks city for $3 million
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Summary
The Volusia-Flagler YMCA presented a proposal for a new 44,000-square-foot YMCA and aquatic center in Town Center, offered short-term operational partnership for the existing pool, and requested about $3 million from the city toward a roughly $16 million project while seeking complementary commitments from the school board and county.
The Volusia-Flagler YMCA told the City Council it would like to build a new YMCA facility in Palm Coast—s Town Center that includes a multi-use aquatic center and indoor recreation spaces, and offered a short-term operational partnership to run the city—s existing Frida Zamba Aquatic Center while construction is planned.
Nut graf: YMCA leaders proposed a roughly $16 million facility, asked the city for a $3 million contribution, and described program and operating models intended to preserve swim programming, expand lessons and competitive swim uses, and shift long-term capital and maintenance responsibility to the YMCA model. City staff will continue talks and assess budget implications as part of the upcoming budget process.
The YMCA proposal: John Walsh (local YMCA board) and Chris Silcop (Volusia-Flagler YMCA executive director) presented the association—s plan for a 44,000-square-foot facility featuring a variable-depth aquatic pool with movable bulkheads (to serve classes, masters swim, school teams and events), fitness and gym space, program rooms and locker rooms. Silcop said the association has experience operating multiple models (city-owned facilities run by the Y, Y-owned buildings, and public-private hybrids) and that the YMCA would bring staffing, program partnerships, and subsidy models that deliver community programming while managing ongoing operations and maintenance.
Cost and asks: The YMCA presented an estimated total project cost in the mid-teens of millions of dollars and said the association seeks about $3 million from the city toward construction; the YMCA said it expects to seek additional funding from school-board partners and Flagler County and planned a roughly 18-month fundraising window. Board members and the developer partner said Town Center DRI land east of the performance stage is available for the project; developer Jeff Douglas said the parcel was originally conveyed as part of the Town Center DRI.
Operations and continuity: YMCA leaders said they would operate the new facility and could assume responsibility for managing the city—s existing Palm Coast Aquatic Center in the short term to maintain uninterrupted services. City staff presented current usage figures for the Frida Zamba pool: the pool is a 25-meter, eight-lane facility that operates seasonally (February-November), hosted roughly 30,000 visits in 2023-24, and offers swim lessons, youth programming and community uses. Council members stressed that any transition must preserve services, particularly lessons and school-team access.
Public reaction and next steps: Several residents and local swim coaches urged a deep end for synchronized swimming and broad year-round access. Council members asked staff to continue negotiations with the YMCA, explore matching contributions from the school board and county, and bring partnership terms and potential budget impacts back during the budget process. No final funding decision was made at the meeting; staff were asked to continue the planning and stakeholder outreach.
Ending: The YMCA and city agreed to follow up with technical design details, a fundraising plan and a jurisdictional funding conversation; council members asked for public workshops and promised further consideration during budget deliberations.
