3 new YMCAs get unanimous thumbs up from Winnipeg city council
Winnipeg city councillors voted unanimously Wednesday to work with the YMCA-YWCA and the province on three new recreational facilities in the city.
City staff will work on memorandum of understanding with the charity and the province on how to move ahead with the projects which together are expected to cost between $145 million and $150 million.
The YMCA-YWCA wants to build the first new facility in the southwest quadrant of the city, another in Transcona and a third in the northwest.
Each centre would be approximately 75,000 square feet.
The MOU is to be completed in the next 180 days and would link the city to a deal with the other two players that would see the city's share come to $50 million.
YMCA-YWCA president Kent Paterson says the motion is a "necessary first step proceeding a whole lot of work."
Some councillors have voiced concern about the city investing in facilities not controlled by the city, with some calling the YMCA a private organization.
Paterson says that's not correct; the organization is a charity.
Winnipeg's growth sparks need for more facilities
Paterson said a three-way partnership makes sense, especially for the city's bottom line.
"The project contemplates that the YM/YWCA would operate the facilities on a go-forward basis. So that eliminates the ... operating costs that the city would have to bear if it were operating the facilities on its own. So we see this as very beneficial to all parties involved."
There are currently four YM/YWCA locations in the city. But Paterson says Winnipeg needs more places where people can unwind.
"We believe that there are areas of the city that are underserved in terms of recreation facilities, areas where there has been significant growth and where people want the sort of services we offer," he said.
And the Ys provide more than just a place to work out or play sports, he added.
"We are the biggest provider of child care in Manitoba and we would like to grow that part of what we do because we believe there are needs unmet right now."
