“The need to have a new or renovated Y in that area is great. People need to understand its importance to the community. Sometimes you’ve got to lift up the basket, so the light can shine. Make sure everybody in the community hears about what you’re doing.”
Tom Mugridge, Member
THE HILLCREST FAMILY YMCA
The YMCA of Greater Cleveland’s Capital Campaign seeks to raise $7 million to renovate the 27,166 square foot building, located at 5000 Mayfield Road in Lyndhurst.
A facilities master plan completed by the YMCA of Greater Cleveland calls for a total re-build to continue to connect to members of the community and successfully meet their changing health and wellness and programmatic needs.
Just like a homeowner would do, the YMCA of Greater Cleveland needs to upgrade the facility in order to successfully serve more children, adults and families in the Hillcrest community, and achieve continued potential membership growth.
That would include improved handicap access, energy efficient lighting and windows, a new HVAC system, improvements to the swimming pool and gym (which were added to the building in 1965), new locker rooms, and a new roof, among other enhancements.
For Cleveland Heights resident Tom Mugridge, 57, the Hillcrest Family YMCA is his self-professed “second home away from home.”
“My wife got me a membership for a Christmas present,” says Tom. He calls the Hillcrest facility “a big community draw.”
“If you were to expand and/or rebuild (the current facility), it would further connect you to the community. The current Hillcrest Y, having been built in 1955, is not as handicapped accessible as it needs to be. It would be great if it were ADA compliant. My wife does have trouble going down stairs. There really is not sufficient handicap access.”
Explains Tom, “The need to have a new or renovated Y in that area is great. People need to understand its importance to the community. Sometimes you’ve got to lift up the basket, so the light can shine. Make sure everybody in the community hears about what you’re doing.”
To make a contribution to the Campaign, contact Toni Kayumi, Vice President of Financial Development and Government Relations, at tkayumi@clevelandymca.org or by phone at (216) 263-6844. Your financial support will help the YMCA of Greater Cleveland increase its service to the 5,479 members, including 950 program members, of the Hillcrest Family YMCA now and in the future.