Art from Johansson Architecture and James Andrews Design and Consulting shows what a potential Battle Ground YMCA could look like.
Last week, the YMCA Task Force of Battle Ground, a group of around 18 that includes local residents and the Columbia-Willamette YMCA CEO and director of the Clark County Family YMCA, launched its first campaign for a YMCA in Battle Ground.
Although the group formed over four years ago and launched their website around two years ago with the option to donate, until now most of the work has been done behind the scenes.
Joy Russell, chairwoman of the task force, said the group wanted to identify a location before launching a full-scale campaign. Because they were struggling to nail down an exact location, they decided to launch a campaign for phase 1, a market study, which will include two to three locations they are targeting.
One of the potential locations is owned by Battle Ground Public Schools and the other by a private developer. For a third location, they are looking at three different plots of land. One is owned by the county, another by the city and the third by a private citizen.
There is still ongoing discussion with the landowners, so Russell could not disclose the exact locations, but at the launch of market study, in about a week, they will introduce the locations.
Community feedback on the locations will be key, Russell said, which is why the group wants to present options.
Along with location, the market study will focus on listening to the community and identifying specific needs. Its overall goal is to determine if Battle Ground is a marketable area for a YMCA. The study will likely run through July and August.
Community feedback has been positive so far. The project’s petition has already received over 1,000 signatures.
The task force feels a YMCA in Battle Ground would be beneficial in a number of ways.
Citizens have long shown a desire for a local pool — that need was clear. But what moved Russell to take action came in the fall of 2012 after several youth suicides. Former Battle Ground Mayor Lisa Walters approached her and a number of other community leaders looking for ways to put preventive measures in place for youth suicide.
After learning about youth sports’ many benefits and seeing there are few options available in Battle Ground — no major recreation facilities or middle school sports — Russell began looking into a YMCA.
She saw the success the YMCA organization has had partnering with communities around the country and decided to approach the organization, which quickly jumped on board.
“The best opportunities for the YMCA is a collaborative effort that links multiple organizations and stakeholders in our community,” Russell said.
“As the community grows, there is going to be even more need,” she later added. “The YMCA serves children all the way up through seniors and they have lots of opportunities for low income families to be involved.”
