The Lakeland Family YMCA is moving forward on an expansion that it started raising funds for over 50 years ago.
Officials with the YMCA of West Central Florida have proposed to build a new Jenkins Field House in addition to expanding its existing childcare building. The building plans were presented Tuesday to Lakeland’s Planning and Zoning Board to request a modification to its Planned Unit Development for the land.
“It’s exciting to see an expansion and an investment into the YMCA,” said Bart Allen, a Lakeland-based land use attorney representing the YMCA.
The YMCA’s plans call for the construction of a 41,000-square-foot field house on the northwest corner of its property at 3620 Cleveland Heights Blvd. The field house would be built over the north end of the organization’s parking lot, blocking the existing exit onto Cleveland Heights.
“The original fundraising for this project started in 1965 by a group of local folks,” Allen said. “The initial raise they were trying to make was $21,000.”
The organization’s parking lot would be reconfigured to run along the southern boundary of the property along Westover Street. The lot’s main entrance will be pushed further back, away from the traffic light at Cleveland Heights Boulevard. Allen said the increase of roughly 70 feet would allow more vehicles to safely line up.
The total number of available parking slots would increase from 158 to 267, Allen said. The smaller parking lot near the childcare center would remain at 18 spaces.
To improve overall connectivity, the YMCA has proposed creating a path connecting to the existing Three Parks Trail running along the length of its Cleveland Heights Boulevard and Westover Street frontage. Allen said the YMCA will work with city planners to make the connection and landscape around the path.
The proposed plans suggest that an existing concrete pavilion be enclosed as a 4,000-square-foot addition to the childcare building. If approved, the expansion would increase the facility’s size by more than 25%.
Elaine Thompson, the YMCA of West Central Florida’s CEO, said enclosing the pavilion would improve its safety and usability for the children.
“One of the problems we have with that outside pavilion is it sits on top of an elevation of about eight feet. There are signs there saying when its wet and slippery don’t use it,” she said. “It’s an incredibly dangerous pavilion.”
The plans are to enclose the pavilion and provide air conditioning to the space to allow greater access. Thompson said the increase in size will allow the YMCA to increase its child care program, as the state’s Department of Children and Families places limits on program enrollment based on square footage of the building.
“We’ll be able to serve more of the needs of the community,” she said.
Thompson would not provide details related to the cost of the project.
Lakeland-based Rodda Construction has been hired to work on the project. Allen said the YMCA will work with Rodda to complete the construction in phases so as not to negatively impact the site’s existing operations. There will be numerous internal renovations, Allen said, in addition to the new construction.
The YMCA’s proposed plans will go back before the city’s Planning and Zoning Board to seek approval to modify its PUD in March. If approved, it will go before the city commissioners for a vote.