The proposed YMCA project in Southern Pines is facing a major reset as the organization works to determine whether it can move forward with a planned recreation facility on town-owned property.
During the Southern Pines Town Council’s Aug. 25 work session, YMCA of the Sandhills representatives acknowledged that the organization will not meet a Sept. 30 deadline outlined in its agreement with the town. That deadline calls for preliminary plans and other project requirements to be completed, but YMCA representatives told council members they are “not even close” to meeting it.
According to the meeting’s official agenda, in August 2023, the town council approved the sale of 7.7 acres at Morganton Road and Henley Street to the YMCA of the Sandhills.
“Deed covenants require constructing a recreation facility by December 31, 2028, with interim deadlines in 2026 and 2027,” explains the agenda. “The YMCA has notified the Town that it has raised insufficient capital to meet these requirements and plans to return the property.”
The YMCA has brought in Bruce Griffin, a consultant with the North Carolina Alliance of YMCAs, to help evaluate the project and determine whether the proposed facility fits the needs of Southern Pines and Moore County. Griffin said the project stalled in part because the YMCA lacked the time or resources to conduct the necessary community research and identify the programs the facility should offer.
Griffin said the YMCA needs to start by determining what role a Southern Pines facility would serve and whether it should operate as a community facility or a resource serving the entire county.
That assessment will look at unmet needs and service gaps, existing programs, and potential partnerships. YMCA facilities typically focus on areas such as health and wellness, aquatics, child care, summer programs, senior programming and sports, but Griffin said the organization does not want to duplicate services that are already available elsewhere.
Instead, the YMCA looks for gaps in a community and builds programs around those needs.
The organization also needs to determine whether the proposed eight-acre property can accommodate the facility envisioned in the original agreement. Griffin said the site would need to be evaluated alongside parking requirements, potential expansion, and the programs ultimately selected.
The original agreement calls for a minimum 45,000-square-foot recreation facility that includes an indoor pool, parking, landscaping, and necessary public infrastructure.
One potential need Griffin identified is expanded aquatic facilities in Moore County.
Griffin, who himself has a background in competitive swimming, said the county doesn’t have a large enough aquatic center to meet the needs of local swim teams and other users. He suggested that a future YMCA facility could include multiple pools, including a competition pool and a warm-water pool for swimming lessons and senior programming.
He also pointed to the potential economic impact of a larger aquatic facility. Griffin previously worked in Goldsboro, where a large YMCA aquatic facility hosted regional competitions that brought visitors into the community and generated business for hotels, restaurants and retailers.
As part of the reassessment, the YMCA plans to hold a community forum Oct. 13 at the Southern Pines Land and Housing Trust.
Griffin said the meeting will not simply ask whether residents want a YMCA; instead, the YMCA wants to identify potential partnerships and determine what the organization could provide the community.
Council members expressed support for the YMCA concept but questioned how little progress had been made since the town and YMCA entered into their agreement. The property will revert to the town by operation of law if the YMCA does not meet the existing deadline.
Mayor Clement said she supports giving the YMCA another opportunity and suggested that shorter, clearly defined periods could help the town see measurable progress.
“I think that we’ve seen that the community wants it,” Clement said. “We’ve seen that the YMCA is important to the people of Southern Pines.”
Stock photo via Canva.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Written by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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