Roger Lee/Journal Scene

Summerville Family YMCA Chief Executive Officer Gary Lukridge addresses the crowd Thursday during the grand opening ceremony for the Y at the Ponds facility.

Roger Lee/Journal Scene

Evan Schwartz takes a spin at the Y at the Ponds fitness room.

Roger Lee/Journal Scene

The Y at the Ponds facility includes an activities room so that children can play while their parents workout.

A large group of YMCA officials, local dignitaries, special partners and community members met in The Ponds neighborhood last week to celebrate.

The Summerville Family YMCA officially opened its new Y at The Ponds facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 19. The 30,000-square-foot, $5.4 million facility includes a playground, basketball gym, weight room and several acres that could be used for ball fields.

“About three years ago John Morgan with Greenwood Resorts and Communities approached the Summerville Family YMCA with a vision and a dream and here it is,” Summerville Y Board President Chris Berry said. “John wanted to build a community out here and wanted the Y to be a vital part of it. We are honored to be a part of it because it is another opportunity for us to continue our mission to reach out to the community.”

According to Morgan, Greenwood Resorts donated the site for the new facility and contributed $3 million towards its development. He said the venture makes sense for his company because it typically incorporates a recreational facility in all of its developments.

The partnership makes sense for the Y because it is experiencing overcrowding at its other facilities. Y officials are hoping the new facility will alleviate crowds as well as attract new members from the outskirts of town.

“For years to come, this will be a monument if you will to the community effort that went into this project,” State Representative Jenny Horne said. “I’ve been a member of the Y for many years and … I would like to congratulate the Summerville community and the Self family and Greenwood Development for making this possible.”

To see more photos from the ribbon-cutting, visit Spotted at www.journalscene.com

Contact Roger Lee @ 873-9424 ext. 213 or rlee@journalscene.com.

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