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YMCA, commissioners restart talks about a full facility in Caroline County; site, funding unresolved
Summary
The Caroline County YMCA requested renewed county engagement on finding a site and partnership to build a full YMCA facility. The Y and commissioners discussed possible locations, funding models, program partnerships and next steps for market testing.
DENTON, Md. — Leaders of the Caroline County YMCA and county officials reopened discussions on July 22 about building a full YMCA facility in the county, but no site or funding commitment was made.
Robbie Gill, CEO of the Caroline County YMCA, updated commissioners on the organization’s history in the county and previous attempts to build a permanent facility. Gill said the Y received a $2.5 million “gift of momentum” in 2019 for a Caroline County facility but returned the donation when site, administrative and infrastructure issues prevented progress.
“Ultimately, in 2022, we gave that 2 and a half million dollars back to the donor … because we really didn’t see a pathway forward,” Gill said. He told the board that solving the land question is the first critical step and that successful Y projects elsewhere have typically been on or adjacent to school property and built through public–private partnerships.
Commissioners and YMCA staff discussed potential sites including the 404 corridor, Denton Elementary property, the former Southern States site and Lockerman. Gill said site needs vary but that a minimum of roughly 6 acres is common, with 10 acres or more preferred for outdoor programming. He estimated a full facility sized like recent Eastern Shore builds would likely cost in the tens of millions of dollars and suggested a mix of private fundraising, state support and county participation would be typical.
Gill said the YMCA’s model often embeds senior-center space and offers programming partnerships (meals, health interventions, free sixth-grade memberships) that local school and aging agencies can use. He encouraged the county and Y staff to test additional sites with market research and said the Y will share its recent market study for the 404 site.
“If we can figure out where the right location for a YMCA would go, then I think you can work towards the fundraising component and the building of a funding model that could ultimately bring a lot to the community,” Gill said.
Next steps: commissioners asked county staff to compile and share candidate sites for market testing; Gill said the YMCA will send its most recent market study for the 404 site and collaborate on site evaluation and fundraising once a preferred location is identified.
