The YMCA of the Palm Beaches, along with officials from Palm Beach County, broke ground recently on its new flagship branch at Lake Lytal Park.
More than 75 YMCA supporters, board members, government officials, Palm Beach County staff and the project’s development team attended the ceremony that officially launched construction of the 55,000-square-foot facility, scheduled to open in mid-2025.
The groundbreaking event commemorated the beginning of Phase 1 of the project, which will include a full-service community center and an Olympic-style skate park. Palm Beach County will be constructing a new aquatic center adjacent to the YMCA’s community center, with a plan for the YMCA of the Palm Beaches to participate with programmatic management of the facility.
“This is a great example of how a public/private partnership can flourish and succeed,” said Tim Coffield, president and CEO of YMCA of the Palm Beaches. “We are deeply grateful to Palm Beach County for their enthusiastic support of this extensive project and are truly excited about the programs, services and recreational amenities we’ll soon be offering to the residents of Palm Beach County.”
Construction of the facility will be managed by Hedrick Brothers Construction and designed by Harvard Jolly Architecture. The skate park was designed and will be built by Team Pain, a leader in the skate park industry.
“I am truly proud to welcome this incredible facility to West Palm Beach, and specifically, to District 3,” Commissioner Michael Barnett said during the ceremony. “Our community will greatly benefit from the numerous services and programs the YMCA expertly offers.”
Once completed, the new flagship branch will include:
- State-of-the-art health and fitness facilities.
- An expansive community gathering place for wellness-focused classes and fitness programs.
- A teen center, STEM lab with a robotics arena, recording studio, visual arts center, mentoring and job training, teaching kitchen and childcare programs.
- An Olympic-style skate park and facility.
- A new aquatics center, being developed by Palm Beach County, will have a competition pool, a dive well and other water-based recreational amenities.
“Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation is looking forward to our partnership with the Y in Lake Lytal Park, providing necessary park infrastructure and making our community even happier and healthier for generations to come,” added Jennifer Cirillo, executive director of the Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation Department.
The YMCA’s portion of the project is $35 million, with approximately 60 percent of construction funding already committed. A naming opportunity is still available for the community center. To learn more, e-mail philanthropy@ymcapalmbeaches.org or call (561) 508-4030.
The YMCA of the Palm Beaches has served the Palm Beach County community for more than 100 years, providing essential programs, activities and services for thousands of children, seniors and families annually. Learn more at www.ymcapalmbeaches.org.
Lake Lytal Park is operated by the Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation Department and is located at 3645 Gun Club Road.
