[Margaret Riley is CEO of the New Canaan YMCA]
Dear friends,
I have had the privilege of leading our amazing YMCA for the last five years. More times than I can count, a member has approached me to tell me how our Y has changed their lives. These stories motivate me, and all our staff and board, to work to ensure that our Y is here for decades to come, so that future generations of New Canaanites can experience the joy this place delivers daily. We serve many functions. We are a full-day childcare, camp, gym, fitness center, aquatics facility, place for inclusion and support programming, chronic disease support, and community center where people come to connect.
When a place means so much to the community, it’s understandable that you would feel passionate about being engaged with any potential change. I have heard your concerns regarding the future of the Valles Pool and am writing to share an update and to ask for your input.
Our Valles Pool building has been an important part of our Y’s aquatics facilities for 46 years. It’s where swimmers and divers have achieved success, contributed to team legacies, built confidence, and made lasting friendships. Our Masters and lap swimmers pursue their life-long love of swimming and support each other as friends. We have been proud that for the last 25 years the building has carried the name Valles, a tribute to the support that Carol and Jean Paul Valles provided our YMCA for decades.
Facility Analysis & What We Learned from the Community
Three years ago, an architect and engineer concluded that the Valles building requires repairs that will span 1-2 years of construction at a cost of millions of dollars. The building will need to be closed by the end of this year. Our board responsibly met that news by establishing a committee to confirm that the required investment would result in a facility that best addresses the needs of all our constituencies.
The committee engaged a consultant to conduct a community needs assessment. With the help of our Town and community leaders, we identified that the community needs our support to battle social isolation by fostering connections and supporting mental health for all ages, most especially our children. The Y was encouraged to offer more recreational opportunities that are low-pressure and non-competitive. We heard that the Y needs to serve as an open and supportive place, and provide more opportunities for children, teens, adults, seniors, and families to connect.
The committee also thoroughly studied member usage of our entire facility and current program demands. We know that the best way to understand what our community wants and needs is to observe what you do when you’re here. We know you’re often waiting to use equipment in the Wellness Center; are frustrated by needing to reserve space for crowded group exercise classes; are dissatisfied with the location of our Mind/Body Center; would like more time in the gymnasium for pickleball, volleyball, and basketball; and would like to sign your children up for programs without the stress of being placed on a waitlist. And although bustling with team activity after school for three to four hours and some mornings, the Valles Pool is underutilized for the majority of the day.
Concept Review
Informed by the data they gathered, our committee explored options for the Valles space that balance the needs and interests of the greatest number of our community members within the square footage limits of our property.
The first plan we developed was the repair of the Valles Building. This would allow the Y’s swim and dive teams who use the Valles Pool, to remain in their preferred pool locations, and all teams (including the NCHS teams) to continue to hold meets in the Valles Pool, which is more conducive for both participants and spectators with larger deck and spectator space. (We have confirmed with USA Swimming and CIAC that the Forese Pool, which is a certified permanent racing course, can also host meets). Maintaining a dive well would also allow our dive team to remain on-site. Our lap and Masters swimmers would also continue to enjoy flexible schedules, water temperature options, and consistent private lane availability.
The committee then reviewed additional concepts reimagining the Valles space, thoughtfully considering the benefits and compromises of each.
We learned that if we remove the Valles Pool, the building footprint could accommodate the following benefits for our members and community:
- A New Aquatic Learning and Training Center with smaller pools dedicated to swim lessons, aquatic exercise and swim training
- An Expanded and Upgraded Main Fitness Center
- New Auxiliary Gymnasium: Increasing time in our main gymnasium for pickleball, volleyball, & basketball; providing additional recreational programs; and allowing access from waitlists for summer camp and afterschool childcare.
- New Family Activity Center: A new destination for families, including a larger home for Bouncing Bears, gym space for childcare and programs, and a new playspace for babysitting and family drop-in time • Relocated & Larger Group Exercise Center
- Relocated Mind Body Center for yoga, Pilates, barre, and more.
- Adaptive Support Studio for our special needs programs and growing chronic disease initiatives, and a
- Multi-Purpose Program Space for non-athletic programs, events, and drop-in activities for all (e.g. STEAM, music, art, games, crafts, etc.)
Next Steps
- As stated earlier, regardless of how we proceed, the Valles Pool will be closed late this year. We are in the process of developing schedules for the Forese Lap Pool that provide a meaningful experience for our participants, and we are pleased with the balance we achieved. We have discussed these schedules with coaches, NCHS athletics staff, and lap swimmers. The practice times of the swim teams will be unchanged, though the pool will, at times, be more crowded. Our lap swimming schedule will be adjusted. Our diving program would need to be relocated to a facility with a dive well. Nearby options are currently being explored with our head coach. The divers on the NCHS teams would have these same options available to them, as would the divers from other towns who currently use our pool. We are in the process of meeting with representatives from each of the affected groups to review how to maintain their Y positive experience.
We Want to Hear From You
As a final step in our decision-making regarding the future of the Y, we’d like to hear from you regarding your YMCA experience, interests, and insight. Thank you for your engagement in ensuring a strong future for the New Canaan YMCA.
Please click here to complete our survey, which will be open through Friday, 6/12.