“
Together we can build community, improve mental & physical health, and ensure everyone feels welcome, safe & connected.”
- Community Member
The New Bedford YMCA is a one-of-a-kind gathering place where people from all walks of life gather for lifelong learning, healthy living, and camaraderie. Founded in 1867, we have been a hub for the city for over 160 years and welcome over 275,000 visits each year. We provide essential services from childcare and preschool to wellness and food security. In a community where nearly 20% of people live below the poverty line, we level the playing field with subsidized tuition for 95% of our preschoolers, after school kids and summer camp participants, and free or reduced cost memberships for nearly 3,000 of our 6,000 members. Youth, families and seniors reach their fullest potential here with education, childcare, wellness, aquatics programs and more.
Our 50-year-old facility can no longer adequately serve the needs of our community. Now is the time to bring our Y into the 21st Century and create a community center that sets the bar for function, service, environmental sustainability and functional design for our diverse and culturally rich community.
82% (36% STATEWIDE)
New Bedford school students are considered low income.
4th (STATEWIDE)
New Bedford is the 4th poorest community in all of Massachusetts.
35%
Less available preschool + daycare in southcoast as compared to state average.
60%
Greenhouse gasses found in New Bedford come from old buildings.
95% of all after-school, preschooler, and summer camp tuition is subsidized due to financial need.
1,500 kids being served annually through learning center, camps and swim & sports programming.
Will create
11 classrooms for children ages 3 months - 13 years + gathering space for teens.
Will double capacity to 3,000 children in the new building.
Will increase preschool slots and add brand new infant/toddler program for 80 children ages 5 and under.
First YMCA to incorporate THE BASICS principles into early education and childcare.
First public PASSIVE HOUSE design in the northeast. New Building will reduce energy consumption by 90%.
33% (27% STATEWIDE)
New Bedford residents suffer from high blood pressure.
10% (7% STATEWIDE)
residents suffer from diabetes.
29% (23% STATEWIDE)
Residents suffer from obesity.
20% (10% STATEWIDE)
Residents live below the poverty line.
15% (2nd HIGHEST STATEWIDE) 2020 CENSUS
New Bedford residents are over 65yr.
Is the leading cause of death in young children.
50% (15% STATEWIDE)
Roughly ½ New Bedford residents are on S.N.A.P.
20% (10% STATEWIDE)
Local residents in poverty.
Provide Diabetes Prevention Program free of charge.
Will increase membership to help more than 10,000 people improve their overall health each year.
Offer free LIVESTRONG programs for cancer survivors and their families.
Provide subsidized memberships to nearly half of our 6,000 members.
Support $300,000 in financial aid for camps, memberships and youth offerings for local families.
Increase programming & activities to serve 1,500+ seniors each year.
Provide free swim lessons for all children enrolled in childcare and camp. Will serve 380,000+ meals annually through mobile food bank market at New Bedford YMCA.
The New Bedford YMCA proudly serves 130 children in our afterschool program from 18 area schools. We have a robust preschool program that adheres to the universal pre-k standards. A new Project Based Learning Center will accommodate 60 additional youth and a brand new Infant Toddler Program. The introduction of Infant toddler will allow us to more proactively implement the Basics Strategy - A strategy grounded in five proven, science-based principles for early learning and brain development.
The five principles include:
TALK, SING AND POINT
MAXIMIZE LOVE MANAGE STRESS COUNT, GROUP AND COMPARE
THROUGH MOVEMENT AND PLAY
READ AND DISCUSS STORIES
Achievement disparities between children from different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds will shrink, as children from all backgrounds start school better prepared for learning and life.
A new Warm Water Walk-In pool will allow all ages, including those with disabilities, to enter the pool with ease. There is no need to climb down a pool ladder or dive in. With this option, anyone can easily transition into the pool, with assistance, if needed, for lap swim, water-based physical therapy, fitness classes, or play time.
Working with the existing building, the New Bedford YMCA project becomes a strategy of “wrapping” the existing structure with a high-performance building enclosure.
• Wrapping the exterior eliminates the cost of the deferred masonry repair work and roof repair work.
• High-Performance buildings are more comfortable, healthier, sustainable and resilient
• Passive designs can use up to 90 percent less energy than conventional designed buildings
$5.5 M
$4 M COMMUNITY SPACES
$9
$6.5 M YOUTH + EDUCATION CENTER (Ages 3mo - 18yr)
“MAIN STREET” COMMUNITY SPACE
NEW WARM WATER WALK-IN POOL
NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
*External Signage
SPACE VALUE
NEW BEDFORD YMCA*
AQUATICS CENTER/NATATORIUM*
AFTERSCHOOL WING
ZERO-ENTRY/WARM WATER POOL
WELLNESS & FITNESS CENTER
BASKETBALL GYMNASIUM
WELCOME CENTER
GROUP EXERCISE GYMNASIUM
OUTDOOR PLAY SPACE (x2)
OUTDOOR PLAY-SCAPE FAMILY SPACE
OUTDOOR MINI SOCCER FIELD
FAMILY LOCKER ROOM
MEN’S LOCKER ROOM
INDOOR RUNNING/WALKING TRACK
FULL COURT BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
HALF COURT BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
CYCLING STUDIO
CLASSROOMS (x8)
CHILD WATCH INDOOR PLAY SPACE
TECHNOLOGY CENTER
FOOD BANK SPACE
COMMUNITY ROOM
OUTDOOR COMMON AREA*
2023-24 QUIET PHASE
2025 PUBLIC CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
2026 CONSTRUCTION
2027 GRAND OPENING
LATE
2025 GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY
For more than 160 years, our YMCA has been here for you serving the children, adults and families of greater New Bedford. It’s been a welcoming place where all members of our diverse community gather to improve the quality of their lives.
So today, the New Bedford YMCA announces a bold plan to transform our antiquated and impaired space with a state-of-the-art, sustainable facility to serve and help even more people of Greater New Bedford. Lets BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW TOGETHER.
Gerry Kavanaugh | Co-Chair
Peter C. Bullard
Kathleen R. Corkum
Nancy McFadden
Terry Gomes | Co-Chair
Arthur DeAscentis
Liz Isherwood
Kate Carney
David Tatelbaum | Co-Chair
John Quinn
David Wright
James F. Scherer | YMCA Southcoast President & CEO
Robert A. Trahan | YMCA Southcoast Vice President & CFO
Robyn Branco | YMCA Southcoast Mission Advancement Director
Tara Pacheco | New Bedford YMCA Executive Director
BUILDING A BETTER
ABILITY ACTION
BIG IDEA
CAPACITY
COMMUNITY CULTURE
EXPECTATION
EXPERIENCE DESTINY LIFE
OUTLOOK
PERFORMANCE PROCESS RESPONSE SOUTHCOAST
TOMORROW
VITALITY
WELLBEING YMCA
NEW BEDFORD YMCA
25 S WATER STREET
NEW BEDFORD, MA 02740
ymcasc.org