Meridian will be getting a new YMCA, city park and elementary school. The Treasure Valley YMCA announced Thursday it will build its first new facility since opening the Caldwell Y nine years ago. The new South Y will be built in Meridian south of I-84 near Eagle Road and Amity.
It will be built on 22 acres of donated land. The J.A. and Katherine Albertson Foundation is donating $4 million to start the project.
The new Y will be about the same size as the existing YMCA's in Boise and Caldwell. But the new project will also include a city park and a West Ada School District elementary school.
Jamie MacMillan, president of the Albertson Foundation, says that’s what attracted her to the project.
“The reason why this is such an extraordinary project from our perspective is that it’s a collaborative effort between many different organizations; government, nonprofit and philanthropy, that are coming together to leverage their resources and provide a great campus and experience for families and kids,” MacMillan says.
She says there are a few examples of this kind of collaboration between YMCA’s, cities and school districts around the country, but this will be the first of its kind in Idaho.
Those making Thursday’s announcement say they don't yet know exactly how much the project will cost or when construction will begin.
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