YMCA of the Palm Beaches recently announced that the Florida Legislature has approved $1.5 million in the state budget for construction costs associated with the nonprofit’s new 55,000-square-foot community center, currently under construction at Lake Lytal Park. The grant was sponsored locally by State Sen. Mack Bernard and State Rep. Anne Gerwig, and was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The state appropriation was granted with recognition of the local support and funding that the project has already received.
“We are extremely grateful to our legislators for their overwhelming support of this expansive project,” said Timothy Coffield, president and CEO of the YMCA of the Palm Beaches. “This is an important investment in our community’s future, and we are honored that the State of Florida has approved funding, and we will continue to work with the local community to garner additional support to help make this long-awaited dream a reality.”
The Palm Beach County Commission has approved a 50-year ground lease to the YMCA of the Palm Beaches, allowing the nonprofit to build a state-of-the-art community center and Olympic-style skate park adjacent to the county’s future aquatic facility, also under construction.
A hallmark feature of the new YMCA Community Center will be its Youth Engagement and Resource Center, wholly focused on mentoring young people between the ages of 12 and 22. Most of the first floor of the two-story structure will be dedicated to teens and young adults, and will include a teen center, recording studio, STEM lab, workforce development hub, e-gaming lounge, visual arts studio and more. Job skills training will include construction trades, food service training, virtual design labs, sound studio technical training and information technology. A variety of additional services will include mental health, career and educational counseling.
Naming opportunities are still available for the community center, which is scheduled to be complete in late 2026. For additional information, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.ymcapalmbeaches.org.
