The Miami County YMCA is committed to serving its community and helping to improve the physical, spiritual and emotional health of Miami County’s residents, both young and old. To better serve its residents, the organization plans to build a new 69,000 square-foot facility on 9.5 acres just east of West City Park in Peru. The new facility will allow them to double the number of people it serves in the existing 60-year-old facility.

The building is part of a larger community improvement project to develop 40 acres of property along the Wabash River between River Walk Park and West City Park. The YMCA’s project goal totals $12.4 million with $7.87 million already committed as of Jan. 9. Commitments have come from individuals, businesses and the community. YMCA leaders hope to have approximately $10 million raised by the spring and will begin community fund raising then with a desire to break ground in the fall.

Miami County residents face many community challenges, including health and wellness, and the YMCA plays a vital role in addressing those needs. Among those needs are:

• 3 in 10 children age 10+ are overweight or obese.
• 1 in 4 residents ages 16-24 is not employed or in school.
• The county is ranked 83rd out of 92 Indiana Counties in Health Behaviors.
• 36 percent of adults are obese, 30 percent are physically inactive and 20 percent smoke.

The new facility will have an elevated walking track, better handicap accessibility, an assigned space for group exercise, an auxiliary gym for the gymnastics program, a designated space for child care, wellness center group exercise classrooms, a multi-use pool and much more.

If you would like to donate towards this project or would like more information about it, contact Mark Demchak, YMCA executive director, at 765-472-1979 or mdemchak@mcymca.org. With your help, the YMCA can continue its life-changing work and add quality of life in Miami County.