Local nonprofit seeks YMCA affiliation to build pool and indoor fields; market and donor studies planned

Teton Valley Aquatics board chair Barbara Beller presented commissioners with a concept for a combined recreation complex in the valley that would include an aquatic center and an indoor field house. The nonprofit completed a feasibility study and conceptual design in 2024 and said it has engaged YMCA partners to explore an affiliate model.

Beller said the YMCA (the Y) can provide shared back‑office services, human resources and accounting support, and programming expertise that helps new facilities reach operational stability within about three years. The proposal the group described would begin with a market feasibility study (phone‑based survey) starting January 2026 and lasting roughly three months, followed by a donor feasibility study about 18 months in duration to determine capital campaign capacity and project scale. The presenters cited examples from the Treasure Valley YMCA and Wood River as comparable models and noted the Y’s track record of pledge collection (a cited figure of 99% pledge payment rate was presented by the presenter as a fundraising strength).

Commissioners thanked the volunteers and discussed potential county role in any future grant matches or funding. Staff said any formal county funding requests would return to the board for review; commissioners endorsed moving the project forward to the next technical and fundraising steps.