Perry YMCA nears $8.9 million goal; council approves alley vacation and utility moves

PERRY, Okla. — The Perry YMCA’s planned expansion, funded in part with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money and a $4,000,000 family-affiliated donation, is within $150,000 of its $8.9 million fundraising goal, and the Perry City Council on Tuesday approved an agreement to vacate a downtown alley and relocate utilities needed for the project.

The expansion will add a childcare area, a dedicated food room, improved lobby and offices, a renovated pool and a 24-hour gym entrance, YMCA representative Mandy Lowry said. “The community really turned up for us, and it was an exciting day,” Lowry said of a recent groundbreaking. She told the council the Y served 25,000 meals this past summer and said a dedicated food room and staff could expand that work.

Why it matters: The project consolidates services that are now scattered across annex buildings and would centralize youth programming, after-school space and community fitness amenities under one roof. The council’s approval of a property agreement clears a legal and utility hurdle that was necessary before building can begin.

Details of the project and timeline
- Project budget and fundraising: Lowry said the overall project budget is $8,900,000 and that the campaign is about $150,000 short as of the day of the meeting. The Y has received ARPA funds and a $4,000,000 donation identified in the meeting as coming from a family-affiliated fund. Lowry credited local families and businesses for the remainder of the fundraising.
- Facilities and programs: Planned additions include a west-side build-out for childcare, a dedicated food room (the Y borrowed space from another nonprofit to run this summer’s meal program), a new lobby with tables and a patio intended for after‑school use, new offices and pool/locker-room renovations. Lowry said the current lobby area will reconfigure to provide 24-hour access to cardio and workout equipment.
- Timeline: Lowry told the council contractors estimate “10 months to 1 year” for the initial phase that uses ARPA funds; a meeting attendee noted an October 2026 target for completion of the overall project. Lowry also said equipment will be moved in “in about 20 days.”

City approval and utility work
City staff said an agreement with the Noble County Young Men’s Christian Association, Inc., was necessary to vacate an alley that runs through the project site. Under the agreement the YMCA will cap existing water and sewer lines in the alley and allow the city to relocate those lines into an adjacent right-of-way; the city attorney advised council this enables the alley to be vacated and title transferred so the YMCA can proceed with construction.

The council voted to approve the agreement (roll call: affirmative votes recorded by the clerk). Council and staff said the utility lines being moved are part of the city water and sewer system and will remain public infrastructure after the move.

Voices in the room
- Mandy Lowry, YMCA representative: spoke about fundraising, program expansion and timeline and said, “We’re only $150,000 short as of yesterday of hitting that goal right here in our little, little town of Perry.”
- Pastor Peter Olsen: introduced the group and offered invocation.
- City staff member: explained the alley vacation application and the utility easement arrangement required to proceed with title transfer and construction.

What’s next
With the alley-vacation agreement approved, the YMCA and city staff said they will proceed with utility relocation and demolition/renovation planning. Lowry said the project intends to move into construction on the ARPA-funded phase first, then continue renovation of the existing pool and facilities.

Clarifying notes
- Funding sources discussed at the meeting included ARPA funds, a $4,000,000 family-affiliated donation described by the Y, and local business and family contributions; the meeting did not provide a full itemized funding breakdown.
- The approved city agreement requires capping and relocating existing water and sewer lines; staff said the lines are part of the city system and will service other customers after relocation.

Community context
Council members and staff praised the Y’s role in local youth services and community events. Council members noted broad local donor support in addition to the ARPA and large family gift.

(Reporting based on the city meeting transcript; direct quotes are attributed only to speakers recorded in the meeting.)