Even before it has a facility in Kent, the YMCA has hired a teen program director to begin to provide programs for community youth.
Director Thomas White and six part-time staff will work with the King County Housing Authority, Communities in Schools and Kent Youth & Family Services to provide programs that focus on middle and high school students who don’t have many options available to them, according to YMCA officials.
In the coming months, after-school enrichment and leadership programs will be expanded at Cascade, Valli Key, and the Birch Creek Youth Center for Kent youth. These programs will provide homework help, career exploration, cooking classes, leadership opportunities and more.
The YMCA plans to build a $25 million, two-story building on the East Hill near Southeast 248th Street and 104th Avenue Southeast in the middle of Morrill Meadows Park. The city will provide the land for the 60,000-square-foot facility that will include a gym, pool, exercise and meeting rooms.
While the YMCA will raise $12.5 million for the project, the local community must raise the other $12.5 million. The Morford family and the King County Council have donated $1 million each toward the community share.
Depending on how fast funds are raised, the YMCA could be built within the next two to four years. Construction on the first phase could start later this year.
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