The Central Lincoln County YMCA Board of Directors announced it is no longer pursuing the construction of an aquatic center, bringing to a close decades of intermittent efforts to bring a pool to the Damariscotta facility.
“The reality is that there is no viable financial path to complete this project,” Liz Lufkin, CLC YMCA board chair, said in a press release, which can be found on page 5 of this edition. “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.”
Conversations about having a pool at the CLC YMCA have taken many shapes over the years, dating back to the facility’s original plans in 1975 and continuing through fundraising campaigns in the years since. The most serious of these efforts was made public in August 2015, when the Y’s leadership at the time unveiled a master design plan at a forum. That proposal, which included plans for a lap pool and mixed-use therapy pool in addition to an extensive renovation and expansion of the existing facility, carried a price tag of between $8.4 million and $9.39 million, according articles by Lincoln County News staff at the time.
Approximately $4 million was raised to fund the renovation project before the decision was made to split it into two phases, according to Casey Clark Kelley, the current CEO of the CLC YMCA.
When the aquatic center shifted into the second phase of the project, the Y contacted any donor who gave $1,000 or more for the pool to communicate the change. If the donor opted for their gift to remain restricted to the pool, the funds were held in a separate restricted fund, Clark Kelley said.
The first phase, which included connecting the facility to public water and sewer, new insulation, an elevated track, new locker rooms, a kitchen, and new exercise spaces and equipment, kicked off in May 2017 and was celebrated with a grand reopening in April 2018.
In 2023, after a period of financial struggles related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the board of directors approved a breakeven operating budget and reassessed the organization’s financial properties, according to the press release.
These discussions also included new estimates for the proposed aquatic facility, now totaling $16.5 million. Of that amount, $9 million would be needed for the construction, while $7.5 million would be used to create an endowment to cover the related operating expenses, estimated to cost $350,000, annually, according to the press release.
In reviewing the pool against the CLC YMCA’s strategic plan and community needs evaluation, the board ultimately made the decision in January that plans to build the pool needed to end.
Those who previously gave donations restricted to the pool were contacted, and the Y is working with donors to redirect the funds, Clark Kelley said. Donors are deciding individually where they would like the funds allocated, with some choosing to move their gifts to existing CLC YMCA programs or endowments that support current community needs while others are in the process of deciding.
Early reaction to the news has been supportive and understanding, given the financial realities of the project, Clark Kelley said. As the project had been active on and off for decades, when the board decided it was not financially viable, members felt it was important to inform the community to provide closure for the topic.
“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,” Clark Kelley said in the press release. “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.”
Any questions or concerns about the board’s decision should be directed to Clark Kelley at 563-9622 or cclarkelley@clcymca.org.
The CLC YMCA will host its annual celebration from 5-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. All are invited to attend and should RSVP at clcymca.com.
