HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - The Hastings Family YMCA has raised 98% of the funds needed to complete their building project, but they aren’t done yet.

Over $18.9M has been raised for their capital campaign but they are continuing to shoot for their goal of $19.2M.

Dozens of community members have a membership to the Hastings YMCA and the CEO, Troy Stickels, is making sure that during construction, those folks will still have a place to go.

“We’ve been trying to talk to a lot of people that come over to this building that, hey, I know it’s different, it’s a change, but everything’s still going to be available and we need everybody to stick with us,” Stickels said. “We really can’t afford to have a whole bunch of people leave the Y, and not participate especially for the health of our community.”

Gaylen Stahl, a member of the YMCA, appreciates this because he used to go just for the workout but now he enjoys the social aspect as well.

“Now that I’m aging, we have a group of locals that come here, work out, which is excellent, and then we always have coffee and socialize,” Stahl said. “That’s become a recent thing for me since I’ve retired. I never did have time when I was working.

As renovations begin at YMCA facilities all across Nebraska, Stickels said it’s time for an upgrade in Hastings.

He’s especially excited to help the kids of the community and said that a little under half of the students at Hastings Public Schools aren’t in any sports or extracurriculars.

“How do we get those other 40 to 50% of those kids involved in something, and so you start looking at things like STEM classes and robotics and e-sports and we just don’t have spaces for that. So now, being able to build things like that I think is a part of it,” Stickles mentioned.

Stickels also said that the YMCA is the largest provider of child care in the country and because of that, they are adding an Early Childhood Development Center.

On top of that, an indoor track will also be available to all Adams County residents. The new aquatics center will feature a zero entry ramp, five-person hot tub, sauna, and steam room.

Right now, there are two YMCA buildings. In order to consolidate into a single facility, Grace Life Church is purchasing the 18th street building.

As the Y prepares for all its renovations, they will be adjusting what’s available at their facilities, including the swimming pool which will remain open until March 2023, but there will be no locker rooms.

Groundbreaking will happen on August 4 at 9 a.m. at the 16th Street YMCA. There will be refreshments and tours to follow.

The entire project is projected to be finished in the Spring of 2024. If you’d like to donate to their capital campaign, you can visit their website here.

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