‘Potential partnership tied to future facility’ being explored by YMCA, Kent State

ASHTABULA — Eric Stinehelfer, CEO of the Ashtabula County Family YMCA, said one of the things that attracted him to the CEO position was that the community wanted a new Y.
“I wanted that challenge,” he recalled at the YMCA’s annual meeting of the board of directors March 25 in the Blue and Gold Room at Kent State University at Ashtabula.
So, Stinehelfer, who began in the CEO position three years ago, said he was excited to announce at the meeting that the Ashtabula County Family YMCA and Kent State University at Ashtabula are exploring a potential partnership tied to a future facility.
According to a news release, the two entities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore the potential partnership “that could expand wellness, recreation and educational opportunities in the community.”
The agreement marks the beginning of discussions between the two organizations as the YMCA continues planning for a new facility and a future capital campaign, the news release states.
Stinehelfer told the audience that the YMCA has contracted with an engineering and design company Gro Development, which Stinehelfer said took “a couple ideas of a Y and fit it into a potential footprint.”
He showed some images on a big screen of a draft for a new facility that makes use of the old library on the university’s campus.
“The old library, which was closed and shut down…this building here you’ll see is going to become very important here,” Stinehelfer told the audience.
The draft that was projected on the screen showed, among other things, a new aquatics center, new men’s, women’s and universal locker rooms and support spaces, and a new gymnasium and racquetball court added onto the old library building, which would be renovated. In addition, the draft shows a second floor featuring a track offering a view to the gym below.
“Again, this is not a final product, this is their first attempt at just some ideas,” Stinehelfer stressed.
The estimated cost for the new facility, which is needed due to the age of the current facility and the need for improvements there, is $20-$25 million, he said.
“We have not kicked off any campaign yet,” he added. When asked for comment on Tuesday, March 31, he said the fundraising campaign should kick off with a major announcement in April. Already, the Y has received an anonymous $1 million donation which is restricted for a new capital campaign for a new facility.
A person in the audience asked Stinehelfer about the timeframe that the YMCA was looking at.
“So, Gro, the company that we’re using, estimated about a two-year timeframe, and that’s assuming that we can raise that $20-25 million dollars within a two-year window, and then about an 18-month to 24-month construction timeframe, so three years, three and a half years,” he said.
He thought that the opportunity that was before the YMCA regarding the potential partnership with Kent State was a synergistic one.
“We’re excited,” he said. “It’s not going to be built tomorrow.” He noted there is a lot of work to do, and it would be a true team approach.
Tim Volpone, the incoming board chair at the YMCA, noted that the announcement was at least 10 years in the making.
“Some of us have been waiting a very long time for this announcement,” he said.
“I just want to say how excited I am to be entering into this dialogue with the YMCA,” Bill Ayres, dean and chief administrative officer at Kent State University at Ashtabula, said. “This is a tremendous opportunity for us as an educational institution. It’s a tremendous opportunity, I think, for both of our organizations. We share a lot of DNA. We are both here to support and build up this community.”
Through a partnership, he thought they would be able to do that in incredibly powerful new ways.
The news release, which was provided by the YMCA following the board meeting, offered some further details and comments about the announcement.
“We’re looking at how we can work together with Kent State Ashtabula to better serve families, students and the broader community in meaningful and lasting ways,” Stinehelfer stated in the formal announcement.
It further stated that the exploratory partnership will focus on how the YMCA’s future facility plans could align with Kent State Ashtabula’s campus, programs and student experience.
“Conversations include potential shared or complementary use of space, joint programming opportunities and long-term collaboration that could benefit both YMCA members and university students,” it reads.
According to the news release, early discussions have also included conceptual ideas such as utilizing existing campus spaces and the possibility of future facility development — including wellness and recreation amenities — that could serve both students and the public.
Kent State Ashtabula officials stated in the announcement that the collaboration “reflects the campus’s commitment to community engagement.”
“We’re always looking for ways to strengthen connections with our community,” Ayres stated in the news release. “This gives us an opportunity to explore how a partnership with the YMCA could enhance student life while also creating new opportunities for the people we serve.”
Volpone emphasized in the news release that the “MOU is non-binding and exploratory.”
He further stated: “No final decisions have been made, and no financial commitments are included at this stage. Any future projects or agreements would require additional approvals from both organizations.”
The announcement noted that over the coming months, both organizations will continue discussions focused on student wellness and recreation, community programming, workforce development opportunities and potential shared services.
The process will be a transparent one.
“Both the YMCA and Kent State Ashtabula said they are committed to keeping the community informed as conversations progress,” the news release stated.
Stinefelter also announced that two community forums for community input and comment regarding the YMCA’s effort to open a new facility will be held at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the YMCA, at 263 West Prospect Rd., Ashtabula, on Wednesday, May 13. Updated drawings and tours of the YMCA will be available. People can learn more about why the YMCA is seeking to move into a new facility. People can just show up for the forums, which will be held in the multi-purpose room.