TOLEDO, Ohio — The final beam was placed at the site of the new Wayman D. Palmer YMCA in central Toledo on Monday in a topping off ceremony.
The event brought together Wayman D. Palmer board members, trustees, staff, volunteers and representatives from The Lathrop Company.
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said the facility is "an investment in the neighborhood."
"To appear in the heart of the neighborhood that hasn't seen an investment like this in 60 years, it's special to be able to build a top-of-the-line YMCA as nice as any in the country," the mayor said of the building, which will 50,000 square feet and include multipurpose rooms for youth gaming, a demonstration kitchen, meeting rooms, gymnasiums, fitness rooms and an indoor pool.
The facility sits on Bancroft Street just a few hundred feet away from the existing facility to provide more visibility. The former facility will then be converted into a park and green space.
Brad Toft, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Toledo, said the facility offers a safe place for youths to be around positive role models.
"It's going to be a place of community. People will come and this is a place where they'll belong," he said. "It'll be a place for kids to be safe, learn how to swim, play basketball and just be around positive role models.
It will also have mental health services, a food pantry and a program to help students get ready for class.
The facility is expected to open in January of 2025.