SEQUIM — The YMCA of Sequim is gearing up for its grand opening Sunday.
The grand opening of the YMCA, 610 N. Fifth Ave., will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., starting with speakers and a ribbon-cutting, followed by pumpkin decorating for youths.
“We’re real excited to bring the facility back online,” said Len Borchers, Olympic Peninsula YMCA CEO.
Since a soft opening Monday, most of the facility has been usable, but the last critical thing opened Thursday, Borchers said.
That would be the pool. Borchers has already seen people enjoying the water, despite the water still needing to warm up.
And as of Sunday, the entire facility will be open.
Borchers said the grand opening is a good opportunity to get a tour of the new facility.
“Some people were waiting until we were open to actually see it,” he said.
Though the YMCA wasn’t fully open, it already had 1,500 members by Thursday, he said.
“It’s amazing how many families and community members have joined,” said Gina Caliendo, Olympic Peninsula YMCA spokeswoman.
“We’re excited to see families and kids there, people who used to go to [the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center]. It’s nice to see everyone together.”
The YMCA took over operations after the Sequim Aquatic and Recreation Center (SARC) closed Oct. 30, 2015.
Members of Clallam County Parks and Recreation District 1, the junior taxing district that owns SARC, voted to turn the facility’s management over to the Olympic Peninsula YMCA.
The facility will see an expansion of hours, with the YMCA of Sequim open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Olympic Medical Center is subletting a 1,500-square-foot area near the main entry that formerly housed the child watch and cardio areas, though Turner said it has no plans for utilizing that area until January.
“It’s worth going and seeing why everyone came together to make this open back up and understand who the YMCA is,” Caliendo said.
“We’re here for the entire community.”
The YMCA of Sequim’s Because Life Is a Community Sport Campaign raised $176,380 to help youths and needy families participate in YMCA programs. The YMCA of Sequim launched the campaign in June 2016 and received gifts from 140 donors.
The YMCA also operates a facility in Port Angeles at 302 S. Francis St. and in Port Townsend at 1925 Blaine St.
For more about the Olympic Peninsula YMCA, see olympicpeninsulaymca.org.
________
Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.
Terry Ward, publisher of the Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum, serves on the YMCA board of directors.
