Juniata Valley YMCA hosts pool grand reopening
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BURNHAM -- Dozens of community members gathered Thursday morning at the Juniata Valley YMCA to celebrate the grand reopening of the YMCA community pool.
After seven weeks of construction and anticipation, the crowd arrived for the reopening during one of the first water aerobics classes.
Juniata Valley YMCA Chief Executive Officer Victoria Searer spoke to the crowd about why the reopening matters.
"The pool is what sets us apart from other organizations," said Searer.
Searer added that the pool has its own fan base and that staff worked together to keep those individuals active, both physically and socially in other ways besides swimming.
She said the renovation was hard for some who greatly missed the pool and the activities that come with it, but others used the time to explore other offerings at the facility.
"Most of our pool-goers are here just for that, but our staff was able to show them what else the YMCA has to offer," added Searer.
Searer noted several key partners in the project, including the EADS Group, Penn State Construction, Mifflin County Commissioners, and Mifflin County Planning Department.
With the commissioners’ support, Searer and her team secured a $600,000 grant through the local shares account.
The project cost about $800,000, so they still needed an additional $200,000.
Searer thanked the late Donald M, Chapman III, who gave a $1 million endowment about 10 years ago, and said the YMCA used that endowment to pay off the remaining project balance.