Blair Yankey
ELKHART -- A new Elkhart health, fitness and aquatic center has entered its initial phase of construction, project leaders say.
During Monday’s Elkhart Rotary Club meeting, Community Foundation of Elkhart County president Pete McCown announced that the $69 million project is only $2 million shy of being fully funded. Now, officials are seeking the community’s help to raise money to pay off the center’s remaining funds before its scheduled opening in early 2019.
The 170,000-square-foot facility, which will be located on the riverfront site of the former Elkhart YMCA at 22 E. Jackson, will house an Olympic-sized swimming pool and diving well, two smaller pools, a lifestyle fitness center, a weight-loss clinic, locker rooms, multi-purpose rooms and a gymnasium.
Seven or eight full-time positions, and 100 to 125 part-time positions are expected to be created.
The project is mainly funded through private donors and between collaborations with community organizations. Beacon Health System, who partnered with the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, is contributing the highest amount of money from a single entity, over $16.5 million.
McCown said the corporation is 60-percent owned by The Community Foundation of Elkhart County while the remaining 40-percent is owned by Beacon Health System. The center’s Board of Directors will hold the responsibility to promote and enhance the health and well-being of individuals within the communities served, and support educational, civic and community programs, he said.
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