YMCA Announces Expansion of Express YMCA
YMCA of Central Virginia and Bedrock Church Partnership
The YMCA of Central Virginia and Bedrock Church have entered into a business partnership that will enhance and expand the mission work of both organizations.
Bedrock Church is investing $1.9 million into the existing building on Old Forest Road, which has housed the YMCA Express for the last twelve years. The church moved into the building in 2020 as a tenant after the YMCA expanded the facility. The renovation and updates will total $2.5 million, with the YMCA contributing additional funds to complete the project.
Both organizations are looking toward the future, confident that this partnership will allow them to increase their capacity for charitable work while better serving their members.
Community Impact
James Barnes, Bedrock Church Lead Elder, expresses the church’s desire to actively participate in Lynchburg’s emotional, spiritual, and physical health. “We are excited to further commit to a long-term partnership with the YMCA that includes a $1.9 million investment toward the renovation of the YMCA Express building. We hope and pray that this investment will create healthy families by building health, faith, and community.”
YMCA of Central Virginia CEO Jay Parker shares that the expansion will create a pathway of growth for the Y. “When we first opened the Express facility, the goal was to create a health and wellness center serving a particular demographic—adults. The Y evolves to meet our community’s needs, and we are doing that with this development. Families need a place to be safe, connect, and build healthy, lasting relationships. We are thrilled that the YMCA Express will join our other family centers in offering this to our community.”
Renovation Timeline and Plans
Construction for the renovation is slated to begin mid-November this year, with the first phase focusing on the building’s façade and enhancing the church’s space. Phase two will address the YMCA’s portion in spring 2023 and will include:
- Updating the wellness center
- Expanding family services, including child watch
- Adding additional space for chronic disease prevention and community betterment programs
This news follows the recent announcement that the Downtown YMCA will undergo a significant transformation due to the YMCA’s Building for a Better Us Capital Campaign, which launched its public phase in September 2022. The Downtown YMCA will be renamed the Schewel-Clark Family YMCA after a generous $2 million gift from the Schewel-Clark family.
Additional information about these projects and how to be part of the YMCA of Central Virginia’s growth can be found at www.ymcacva.org.
View Updates Below
November 28th Update
Renovations have begun, and we are on our way to a reimagined and improved Express YMCA. Stay tuned for pictures and updates as we improve your YMCA!
December 9th Update
We are making great progress! While you may have noticed some noise and minor disruptions this week, please know this won’t last long as the demolition process moves forward.
What to Expect Next:
Workers will begin removing some of the asphalt in the parking lot. This may be loud at times, but it’s temporary as they prepare to lay the foundation for our new façade.