City of Toledo, YMCA of Greater Toledo, and Community Partners Celebrate Opening of the Wayman D. Palmer YMCA with Ribbon Cutting

The City of Toledo, in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Toledo, celebrated the opening of the new Wayman D. Palmer YMCA with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a major milestone in bringing new life and expanded opportunities to the Warren-Sherman neighborhood.

Local leaders, partners, and community members gathered to celebrate the completion of the $28.6 million project—an investment that replaced the aging facility with a vibrant, modern hub for wellness, youth development, and community engagement.

The new 50,000-square-foot facility includes a family-friendly indoor pool, an 8,000-square-foot gym with NCAA-quality flooring, a larger fitness center with Peloton® equipment, a teen lounge, and an outdoor splash pad.

It also houses a food pantry and community health worker through CareNet, a multipurpose room for community events, and space for partners including Toledo Public Schools Head Start, the T.A.C.K.L.E youth mental health program, and the Toledo Northwest Food Bank.

The new YMCA sits on what was formerly Inez Nash Park and now extends all the way to Bancroft Street. The two locations were flipped to accommodate the larger footprint of the facility and the future park that will follow. This site was not just redesigned for the community, but with the community. Neighborhood residents helped shape everything from the play structures and water features to the amenities inside.

"This ribbon cutting is more than the celebration of a new building—it’s a celebration of what’s possible when we come together to support our neighborhoods," Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said. "This facility will serve as a safe, inclusive space where families can thrive, children can grow, and the entire community can come together."

The Wayman D. Palmer YMCA, originally opened in 1978 and operated by the YMCA since 1995, has long been a cornerstone in central Toledo. The rebuilt facility now serves as a United Way Community Hub and will continue to offer after school programs, youth and adult sports, and daily ‘grab & go’ meals.

“I am thrilled that with significant federal financial support, the YMCA of Greater Toledo, the City of Toledo, and local partners have made the vision for a new recreation complex in Warren-Sherman a reality. The new Wayman Palmer YMCA is more than a building — it is a beacon of opportunity, a hub of community, and a generational investment in the well-health of our children, families, and neighbors. The new state-of-the art Wayman Palmer YMCA renews our commitment to the health, wellness, and future of both Toledo and the Warren-Sherman neighborhood," Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) said.

"This center will not only offer world-class fitness and recreation, it will also provide vital programs for youth development, mentorship, and enrichment — ensuring that every child who walks through its doors knows that they are welcome and they belong. This investment is about more than bricks and mortar — it is about people. It is about lifting up our community, strengthening families, and opening doors of possibility.”

Brad Toft, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Toledo, said the opening is a moment years in the making.

“This new YMCA is going to transform lives. It’s a place for basketball games and swim lessons, for seniors to stay active, for teens to feel seen, and for families to come together. It’s more than a building—it’s a promise to this community,” Toft said.

Of the $28.6 million total cost, $19 million came from American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated by the City. Additional support came from the YMCA, Community Development Block Grants, and the New Markets Tax Credit Equity program.

Rosalyn Clemens, Director of Housing and Community Development for the City of Toledo, said the project delivers on the City’s promise to invest in areas that have long been overlooked. “This is what intentional investment looks like,” Clemens said. “This facility, with all its services and partnerships, will anchor this neighborhood for generations to come.”

AT&T helped celebrate the event by donating 150 refurbished laptops to the YMCA of Greater Toledo’s new Wayman Palmer YMCA in the Warren-Sherman neighborhood. The computers, funded by AT&T contributions, were given to students and families in need who utilize the YMCA’s after-school programming and youth enrichment programs.

“AT&T is proud to collaborate with organizations like the YMCA to help close the digital equity gap in Toledo,” Mark Romito, External Affairs Regional Director, AT&T Ohio, said. “Access to connectivity is vital in helping to bridge the digital divide and we are glad we can provide these resources to those that need them most.” 

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