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BURNHAM - The Juniata
Valley YMCA in Burnham
is getting a major refresh
aimed at improving
comfort, reliability, and energy
efficiency for its members--
especially those who
rely on the indoor pool for
exercise and therapy.
Design work is already
underway on a project that
will renovate the aging
pool ceiling and replace
the facility's outdated
PoolPak climate control
system. The upgrades are
expected to begin late this
year or early next year, according
to Kristen Price,
grants program administrator
with the Mifflin
County Planning and Development
Department.
Funding for the work includes
a $600,000 Statewide
Local Share Account Grant
from the Commonwealth
Financing Authority. The
Mifflin County Commissioners
secured the grant
on behalf of the YMCA,
which will cover additional
project costs.
The improvements come
after years of mechanical
issues with the PoolPak,
which regulates air temperature
and humidity in
the pool area. Frequent
malfunctions have forced
temporary pool closures,
disrupting programming
and frustrating members.
Price said the replacement
system will enhance reliability
and reduce maintenance
costs.
"The project will allow
the YMCA to offer a reliable
and welcoming indoor
swimming environment to
our community," she said.
"Replacing the PoolPak
will enhance reliability
and reduce maintenance
and repair costs, making
the system more cost-effective
and energy-efficient."
The YMCA's indoor pool
is one of the community's
most-used fitness and
recreation assets, serving
residents of all ages. It's
used for youth swim lessons,
therapy programs
for seniors, and local swim
teams that rely on the facility
throughout the year.
But the pool area, built
over 25 years ago, has also
become a visual reminder
of age and wear. The ceiling,
now discolored from
years of moisture, will be
refinished as part of the
project.
"While the discoloration
on the ceiling in the pool
area poses no health risks,
some people have been discouraged
from using the
pool because of the way
it looks," Price said. "The
renovations will create a
more welcoming space for
community members."
The planned improvements
align with broader
efforts to keep the Juniata
Valley YMCA a centerpiece
of community health
and recreation. The organization,
which has expanded
programs in recent
years to include youth
sports, after-school care,
and adult fitness classes,
has been candid about the
strain of maintaining aging
facilities while trying
to meet growing demand.
The grant helps relieve
some of the pressure. Local
Share Account funding--
generated through
Pennsylvania's gaming
revenues--supports projects
that strengthen community
infrastructure,
recreation, and economic
development. Mifflin
County officials have used
similar grants for park renovations,
downtown upgrades,
and safety equipment
purchases across the
region.
The YMCA project
stands out for its direct impact
on public health and
wellness. For many residents,
the pool isn't simply
a place to swim; it's a place
to recover, connect, and
stay active in a rural area
where year-round fitness
options are limited.
As Price explained, the
updates are about reliability
as much as comfort. The
goal is to ensure that when
residents show up for water
aerobics, swim lessons,
or therapy sessions, the
doors are open and the water
is warm.
"The pool has been
closed several times in recent
years due to mechanical
issues involving the
PoolPak," Price said. "This
replacement will help us
avoid those disruptions
and make the system more
sustainable in the long
term."
Construction timelines
remain flexible as design
work progresses. Once bids
are awarded, the project
will move quickly to minimize
downtime for members.
While no completion
date has been finalized,
Price said the goal is to
finish early in the coming
year. The YMCA plans to
communicate with members
about any temporary
closures or service changes
during the construction
period.
For now, the news has
been met with optimism
by residents who've long
considered the YMCA a
lifeline, especially during
harsh winters when outdoor
activity slows and the
pool becomes one of the
few local places for low-impact
exercise.
When finished, the improvements
will mark one
of the most significant upgrades
to the Burnham facility
in decades, reaffirming
its role as a year-round
hub for community health
and recreation.
The ceiling will shine
again, the air will feel
cleaner, and the sound of
splashing--steady, rhythmic,
familiar--will once
more echo through the
heart of the Juniata Valley
YMCA.