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Crossroads YMCA, Boys & Girls Club and Methodist outline Talleston Opportunity Campus plans for Gary
Summary
Leaders of the YMCA, Boys & Girls Club and Methodist Hospitals presented details of the Talleston Opportunity Campus on June 2, describing pools (including a therapy pool), expanded youth and health services, partnerships and a targeted community opening in early September. Project cost is roughly $45–47 million; about $3–4 million remains to be raised.
Cynthia Pope, advisory chair for the Crossroads YMCA Talleston Opportunity Campus, told the Gary Common Council on June 2 that extensive community outreach shaped the project and that most survey respondents were local: “418 phone interviews and 161 online surveys” produced results showing a strong demand for aquatics and health services, she said.
Jay Buckmaster, chief executive officer of Crossroads YMCA, laid out the campus design and schedule. He said the facility includes two pools — a zero-depth entry family pool and a 90-degree therapy pool intended for chronic-disease management and arthritis classes — three gymnasiums that can accommodate up to three full basketball courts (and multiple pickleball courts), expanded café and lobby spaces, and dedicated early-learning and teen areas. Buckmaster outlined near-term dates: an open house on June 6, a summer-program start on June 9, sneak-peeks for members the week of Aug. 24 and a full public opening targeted for Sept. 8–9.
Mike Jessen, representing the Boys & Girls Club component, described the club’s renovation and security upgrades. He said the club averages about 160 kids per weekday during the school year and expects to double that to about 320 with the renovated space and to reach a capacity of roughly 500. Jessen also highlighted partnerships that will operate on campus: a food locker from the Northwest Indiana Food Bank, collaboration with Meals on Wheels, Boeing-funded STEM and maker-space classrooms, and an expanded Best Buy Teen Tech Center.
Matt Doyle, president and CEO of Methodist Hospitals, said Methodist will provide an on-site urgent-care clinic (“Care 1st”), plans for physical-therapy services that use the therapy pool, and hopes to recruit primary-care providers to serve members and the public at the campus. Doyle described the arrangement as a three-way nonprofit partnership among YMCA, Boys & Girls Club and Methodist intended to increase local access to health and social services.
Buckmaster said the capital campaign began as a $30 million effort but the overall project is landing in the $45–47 million range; he said the campaign has raised much of that but expects about $3–4 million remain. He described multiple naming opportunities and said contributions of every size will be recognized. Project leaders estimated the campus will employ more than 200 people and attract between 2,000 and 3,000 visitors per day across services when fully operating.
Why it matters: Project leaders framed the campus as a neighborhood hub that combines youth programming, recreation and health services under one roof. Council members and several residents applauded the project; public commenters emphasized security at opening and urged recognition of local history during build-out. The council did not take formal action on the presentation; the bid to finalize display, fundraising and opening timelines was informational.
Next steps: Organizers will hold an open house June 6 and begin summer programming June 9; campaign leaders continue to solicit remaining funds and naming donors, and the council and city staff will remain engaged as partners.
