Lock Haven council commits to bridging YMCA fundraising gap so pool can reopen

The Lock Haven City Council agreed to put a resolution on the June 20 agenda that would authorize a roughly $30,000 contribution to the YMCA's full-restoration fundraising campaign so the organization's pool can be brought back into service.

YMCA representative (Speaker 9) told council the organization has raised about $250,000 toward a $280,000 equipment purchase needed to fully restore the pool, which has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic. "We drained it that summer, and it's been closed since then," Speaker 9 said, and explained the YMCA will scholarship memberships for those who cannot pay.

Council members pressed staff about municipal balances and competing capital needs before Speaker 3 moved to provide the balance needed to reach the YMCA's Tier 1 funding level; Speaker 1 seconded the motion. Council members voted in favor (recorded as 7 yes votes). Speaker 9 thanked the council and said the YMCA hopes to have equipment ordered and installed within 12–14 weeks of receiving the funds, plus two weeks for installation, with a target to reopen by late fall.

Why it matters: The pool supports youth swim lessons, child-care programming and senior fitness classes that the YMCA said are currently unavailable while the facility is closed. The council's decision is a funding commitment in principle; the formal appropriation and processing through the city's accounts will occur after the June 20 resolution is adopted and processed via the city's accounts payable system.

What happens next: Staff will place a formal resolution on the June 20 agenda authorizing the transfer; once adopted the city will process payment and notify the YMCA to pick up the check.