At last! After seven long years of planning, campaigning and tireless fund-raising, the new LAKE HIGHLANDS YMCA will be open to the community the very first month of the new millennium. Be assured, it was worth the wait.

The sprawling 26,000-square-foot facility will offer programs, services and amenities including an indoor/outdoor aquatic center and play pool; a gymnasium housing full-size courts for basketball and volleyball; a strength/cardiovascular center with state-of-the-art equipment; an exercise studio; adult and family locker rooms; and a children’s nursery.

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“It’s almost a breathtaking experience every time you can watch a dream become a reality,” says ELLIOTT STEPHENSON, president of the Lake Highlands YMCA, about being there during the building process as the grand new facility rose from the ground up. “It’s something all of us need to be real proud of – a legacy to our community’s spirit and good will, and concern for our families.”

That sense of community is what has fueled the YMCA nationally for 150 years. It’s the place where many of us learned to swim, where we played our first sporting event.

Stephenson says he wants people to know that the Y is there for everyone, and encourages the neighborhood to turn out to see the great results and to join. There is a joiner fee of $99; monthly rates are $49 for families and $35 for individuals.

The new YMCA is located at 8920 Stults at Greenville. For information, call 214-221-9622.