After nearly three years of planning, the Bethlehem YMCA finally broke ground on a project to build a lunch pavilion for children participating in its summer camp program and members of the local branch.
At a ceremony held on Tuesday, April 3, Capital District YMCA officials, local politicians and members of the community came together to formally announce that construction of the project would start within days. The goal is to have the pavilion complete before camp begins in June at the 14-acre property located at 900 Delaware Ave.
“This will allow the YMCA to further establish its programs within our community,” said Bethlehem YMCA Executive Director Derek Martin. “It also allows us to better serve the campers coming through our doors everyday.”
Last summer, about 150 campers per week attended the Bethlehem YMCA camp, which ran for nine weeks, said Martin.
The 3,200-square-foot pavilion will include an eating area, room for activities, a food service area, bathrooms and storage space. A walking path for and a utility road from the parking lot will also be built. The building will have water, sewer and electrical connections.
The entire project will cost $490,000. About $250,000 was obtained through grants, with $115,000 coming from donations. The rest will be paid by the YMCA, but donations are still being accepted.
Martin said the pavilion is part of the Bethlehem branch’s capital campaign. The entire plan also includes the installation of activity fields, a welcome center and a playground, project totaling an additional $150,000. Those plans will be completed as funds become available.
Martin said the pavilion will be used exclusively for YMCA members and those who attend camp, but it can be rented out for use by corporations and the community for local functions during the off season.
“The hope is to have our ribbon cutting ceremony in June,” said Martin. “With the way the weather has been we’ve been fortunate and the back has been dry compared to years past, so we’re on our way.”
The pavilion will be located behind the YMCA building at the far end of the parking lot. Martin said the location was chosen to be midway between the trails used by campers and the main building.
“We thought that was the ideal location,” he said. “We’re going for that Adirondack feel. If you were back there and didn’t know you were right off Delaware Avenue you would feel like you were in the Adirondacks.”
David Brown, the president and CEO of The Capital District YMCA, said he was proud of the Bethlehem branch for how it’s grown over the years. Brown said the pavilion project would not have been possible without the support of state Sen. Neil Breslin.
“The Y has been an important part of my life growing up, and now with the Y in Bethlehem,” said Breslin. “I remember those early projections that we were going to have somewhere around 900 members, well forget about that. This is such an integral part of out community and this pavilion will have such an impact on the kids of our surrounding communities, I’m just happy to have played a small part.”
Bethlehem Supervisor John Clarkson said the project is important in creaing unity in the area.
“We just feel these projects will allow us to provide the level of service we think is expected of us in Bethlehem and the greater community,” said Martin.
To donate visit www.ymcabethlehem.org.
