YMCA mulls new Johnson County location

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) - After the first talks of a new pool, Greenwood is looking to add another big feature in the same location.

The city wants to bring in a YMCA and want to put it in at Freedom Park on the south side of the city.

Greenwood resident Amy Buckner likes the idea.

"I think it's a great idea,” Buckner said. “I think my family would utilize it. My kids would use it for sure.”

City leaders are also excited about the possibilities.

“It's just a great place for the (YMCA) to move in the direction they wanted to move.  They were looking to move to Johnson County anyway, and we have this space for them. It just works out," said Councilman Thom Hord.

The vision is for the YMCA is to build a 50,000 square foot facility in Freedom Park. The city would give up the land and build a $10 million aquatic center.

"They would come in and manage the aquatic center, run their program out of it, maybe even use some land here at Freedom Park to run some other outdoor programs," said Hord.

Currently the Baxter YMCA , located north of County Line Road, is the closest YMCA for Greenwood residents. Hord is confident a new YMCA in Greenwood would do well.

"There are a lot of rooftops in the area of Freedom Park. From where we stand right now, there are 95,000 residents who could potentially use the YMCA if it was built here," said Hord.

Craig Park, closer to downtown, was also considered as a spot to build the new aquatic center.  But Hord says it would it be more costly and the YMCA isn't interested in the location because it is too close to its Baxter facility.

YMCA officials say they are years away from building a recreational center in Johnson County. However, they did agree to look at the Freedom Park site.

The city is paying $10,000, half the cost for a feasibility study. Even if the YMCA was not interested in building in Freedom Park, the city still wants the organization to run the new aquatic center.