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The 8.5 acres on 16th Street are in hand. Now $2.5-million must be raised before starting the project.
By RICHARD DANIELSON
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 2, 2001
PALM HARBOR -- It took several months longer than expected, but the YMCA has land to build on in Palm Harbor.
Executives from the YMCA of the Suncoast closed a $400,000 purchase of 8.5 acres on 16th Street on July 9. Now supporters hope the acquisition boosts fundraising.
"This is the next step in bringing a YMCA to Palm Harbor," said G. Scott Goyer, president and CEO of the YMCA of the Suncoast. "It does provide an opportunity for the community to realize the Y would like to have a physical plant in the community."
YMCA administrators want to raise $2.5-million before starting on the first phase of the project.
"We have a little over a million left to raise," Goyer said Wednesday.
In an e-mail to prospective donors Wednesday, YMCA supporter Mike Doyle touted the acquisition of the property, which lies next to the Palm Harbor Senior Activity Center.
"For those waiting to see something 'in hand' before joining our efforts, we'd like to hear from you and welcome your support," Doyle wrote.
The proposal for the Palm Harbor YMCA started in late 1998 with swim boosters for the Palm Harbor University High School swim team. The team now practices and holds meets at Clearwater High School's pool 10 miles away. Led by Doyle, the boosters approached the YMCA of the Suncoast, which has eight branches in Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties, to manage a pool. Eventually, the plan evolved into a proposal for a full-scale YMCA.
The YMCA's first phase will include an outdoor aquatic center, a teen activity area, a children's play area and a family wellness center. The aquatic center would include two pools with lap lanes, diving boards, two water slides, an interactive family water activity area and a ramp that allows swimmers to walk into the pool gradually.
Later phases include multipurpose space, an aerobics center, fitness center, a full-size gymnasium and an indoor, multilevel children's play center.
North Pinellas business executive Lew Friedland is working to raise money from local businesses. He said the effort is about on the same pace as a similar fundraising project he led for the YMCA branch in Trinity, just north of the Pasco-Pinellas county line.
"It's a process and it takes time, but we're chipping away at it," said Friedland, who is the president of the Ironman triathlon organization owned by Dr. James Gills. Gills' family has pledged $1-million toward the Palm Harbor YMCA.
"They always start off slow, but over some period of time, they kind of get moving," Friedland said of fundraising efforts. "We just in the last couple of weeks got $10,000 from somebody, and I was told today (about) another $25,000 donation."
Friedland declined to name the donors, saying an announcement would be made later. He did say that as a resident of Palm Harbor, he sees the need for a YMCA.
"I get to drive though town and see how many kids are hanging out and how many kids we can help, and there's a lot of need in Palm Harbor for that," he said. "There's too many kids out there with too much free time."
Buying the land took longer than expected because Pinellas County owned it but had been required by the state Department of Elder Affairs to use it to benefit seniors. Goyer said the state was willing to waive the restriction to allow construction of the YMCA, but that took time.
Goyer said anyone interested in contributing can call him or vice president of financial development Cathy Holland at 467-9622.
- Staff writer Richard Danielson can be reached at 445-4194.