The board of directors of the Central Lincoln County YMCA announced on Tuesday, April 30 that it has ended plans to build an aquatic center at its facility in Damariscotta.
For more than 40 years the CLC YMCA has been the community center for the central Lincoln County region and for almost as long there have been on-and-off efforts toward building a pool.
“The reality is that there is no viable financial path to complete this project,” Liz Lufkin, CLC YMCA board chair, said. “As hard as this decision was for the board, it was a crucial one – one that prioritizes the sustainability of our current facility and ensures the continued focus on the essential services for which the community relies on us.”
The most recent effort toward construction of a pool began 10 years ago when the board completed a comprehensive master facility plan, which included renovating and expanding the existing facility and constructing an aquatic facility, according to Lufkin. Two years of fundraising followed to support that plan.
As time went on, construction costs continued to increase, far surpassing the original projections and requiring additional financing. The board decided to phase the project, with the first phase dedicated to the expansion and renovation, including crucial infrastructure improvements, and the second phase planned to include aquatic and child care facilities.
In April 2018, the CLC YMCA hosted a reopening of the newly renovated and expanded facility, which included the addition of community gathering spaces, a pre-K classroom, teaching kitchen, an indoor elevated track, an additional fitness studio, new locker rooms, and an open-layout fitness center.
In 2023, following a period of financial struggles related to the pandemic and subsequent work toward financial recovery, the board of directors approved a breakeven operating budget for 2024 and determined it was again time to reassess the organization’s financial priorities. Discussions included a new aquatic facility, estimated to cost $16.5 million, including $9 million for construction and a $7.5 million endowment to cover approximated $350,000 in annual operating expenses.
A pool was also reviewed in relation to the CLC YMCA’s current strategic plan, which included a community needs evaluation that identified numerous issues more pressing than a pool. This financial assessment led the board of directors to determine in January that plans to build a pool needed to end.
“The YMCA board and leadership team recognizes that communication on the pool could have been clearer and that there has been confusion surrounding the status of the pool,” Casey Clark Kelley, CLC YMCA chief executive officer, said. “We apologize for this. When the Y planned an aquatic center and began fundraising, our intentions were genuine. However, the escalating financial realities from year to year put the project out of reach.
“In central Lincoln County, our Y is the community center. On any given day you can walk in and see hundreds of people of all ages within our walls,” Clark Kelley continued. “In 2023, we served more than 3,800 members, awarded $82,887 in membership and program scholarships, provided 34,886 meals and snacks to kids, and assisted 604 individuals through the community navigation program. Our fitness classes kept 441 adults active, while our health management programs helped 208 adults with chronic disease risk factors take control of their lives, and our summer camp programming kept 313 kids busy all summer. Our responsibility as a Y is to meet the community needs and that is why our current strategic focus includes financial sustainability for the Y and addressing the critical need for child care.”
All donors on record who gave gifts restricted to the pool fund have been contacted. Any questions or concerns about the board’s decision regarding the pool should be directed to Clark Kelley at 563-9622 or cclarkelley@clcymca.org.
