Renovations are complete on the indoor pool at the Lake Highlands Family YMCA, and the pool is now open to members and program participants for use year-round.
The heated pool has been expanded to six lanes to facilitate more swim lessons, swim teams, recreational use, lap swimming and water aerobics. The pool was originally forced to close after sustaining damage from high winds a few years ago.
The renovation kicks off a multi-phased project set to take place at the Y over the next 18 months. The pandemic forced delays, but renovation plans are now back on schedule.
The Y will add 15,000 square feet of additional space and update existing areas of the branch. They’re also kicking off a new $1.5 million fundraising campaign to build an outdoor recreational pool.
“We plan to grow this Y not only in size, but in the scope of how we serve our community,” says Brian Haines, district executive director. “With the updates to our branch, the Lake Highlands Family Y will be able to expand our community-based programs including, but not limited to, youth sports, teen leadership, drowning prevention programs and more. We are dedicated to the Lake Highlands community and look forward to expanding the services we can offer our neighbors as we continue to grow.”
The new amenities will provide a fun and safe place for the community to bring their children for swimming, Haines says, and a place for kids to learn life-saving swim skills as part of the Y’s Safety Around Water program, which recently set a goal of eliminating childhood drowning by kids 4 and under.
To encourage community support and ensure the $1.5 million goal is reached, the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas will match the first $500,000 raised by March 31, dollar for dollar. Online donations may be made here, or donors may contact Brian Haines by visiting www.lakehighlandsymca.org.