City of Toledo, YMCA of Greater Toledo, and Community Partners Unite for Wayman Palmer YMCA Groundbreaking Celebration
The City of Toledo, in collaboration with the YMCA of Greater Toledo, broke ground for the new Wayman Palmer YMCA during a ceremony which included community leaders, partners, and dignitaries.
The Wayman Palmer YMCA, a cornerstone in the Warren-Sherman neighborhood since its establishment in 1978, and Inez Nash Park will be transformed into a new community hub.
The new Wayman Palmer YMCA will offer a range of reimagined spaces catering to the diverse needs of the community. Among the new features are: a state-of-the-art indoor pool, an 8,000-square-foot gym, an expanded fitness center, an outdoor splash pad, and a wellness center. In addition, the new facility will host afterschool programming, youth and adult sports, ‘grab & go’ meals, and will also have a community hub with a full-time hub director experienced in working with at-risk youth and families.
"Today's groundbreaking signifies a victory for this neighborhood, a triumph for our children, and a triumph for the entire Toledo community. We have made it a top priority to invest in all neighborhoods, particularly those that have long been overlooked. Today's groundbreaking underscores that actions speak louder than words,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said.
The total cost of the project is $28.7 million. The city has allocated $19 million in federal relief funds to drive the project forward. Additional funding sources include a $3 million contribution from the YMCA and $6.7 million in Community Development Block Grants. The city is also working to secure an additional $5 million from a New Markets Tax Credit Equity program, a federal tax incentive program for economically distressed communities.
“We are so grateful to the City of Toledo and all of our partners at the Wayman Y to arrive at the important milestone of breaking ground,” Brad Toft, president and CEO, YMCA of Greater Toledo, said. “With the new YMCA, we will serve more people of all ages and strengthen this important part of Toledo.”
Beyond the infrastructure, the Wayman Palmer YMCA is a hub of community engagement. In the period from 7/1/22 to 6/30/23, it served 7,910 individuals, provided 1,725 ‘grab & go’ lunches through the summer feeding program, hosted over 30 community events, and offered 8 different sports to 1,436 youth participants.
“This is truly transformational for the Warren-Sherman neighborhoods,” Rosalyn Clemens, Director of Housing and Community Development, said. “We have risen to the challenge as a City to deliver this magnificent project to a community that needs it and a community that will thrive as a result of it.”
The revitalization of the Wayman Palmer YMCA marks a significant milestone in central Toledo. It holds the promise of a brighter future for Toledo and its residents. The project is slated for completion in early 2025, with a commitment to transform lives and empower the neighborhood.
