Our Commitment to Grove City

It’s with great interest that we have been following your exploration of building a new community center for Grove City residents. We were encouraged to see our current Grove City YMCA site ranked #2 among the 18 locations considered by your site selection committee. At the same time, we are concerned that the possibility of a City-YMCA joint venture has not yet been fully explored.

The Grove City YMCA is a vital community asset, trusted and valued by residents. Today, 1 in 6 Grove City residents are YMCA members. Our membership includes over 8,000 family members, 6,100 seniors, and 2,400 adults. Our youth development experts provide before- and after-school care to 308 children within the South-Western City School District. We are a solid foundation for connection, health, and growth in Grove City, having welcomed five generations of residents through our doors since 2003.

The Grove City YMCA brings unparalleled experience to a community center. Beyond the boundaries of Grove City, the YMCA of Central Ohio has decades of proven experience in recreation and community center programming and operations, serving as a trusted leader in strengthening individuals and neighborhoods across the region. With a long history of managing diverse facilities — from fitness centers and aquatics programs to after-school and youth development initiatives — the YMCA has built a comprehensive expertise in delivering safe, inclusive, and impactful services. Our staff and leadership bring deep knowledge in facility operations, program design, and community engagement, ensuring offerings that are both responsive to local needs and aligned with best practices in health, wellness, and recreation. This depth of experience allows the YMCA to create welcoming spaces where residents of all ages and backgrounds can connect, grow, and thrive.

A partnership between Grove City and the YMCA could deliver significant savings for taxpayers. By joining forces, the City could mitigate some of the steep capital costs of a new community center while ensuring every taxpayer dollar goes further. The price tag for a facility like the one Council proposes is estimated at more than $100 million in construction costs, plus substantial ongoing operating expenses. To cover this, the Finance Committee is considering tax-increment financing (a “TIF”), which could divert revenue from South-Western schools, along with an increase in the city income tax.

Grove City taxpayers deserve another option: working with a fiscally responsible partner that already serves this community. The Grove City YMCA delivers high-impact programs at no annual cost to the City and has provided more than $3.9 million in financial assistance since 2003 to local families, so no one gets turned away. Grove City residents, businesses, and organizations invested millions to build the YMCA, contributed countless volunteer hours each year, and continue to champion the Grove City YMCA through their ongoing support. Together, we can expand opportunities for residents while protecting taxpayers from unnecessary financial burdens.

Grove City voters want the City and the YMCA to partner on a new community center. A 2025 independent research poll confirms that Grove City taxpayers strongly prefer a City-YMCA joint venture over a wholly City-owned and operated facility — making collaboration not only the most cost-effective path, but the most widely supported. A partnership would provide continuity for the thousands of residents and families who already rely on the Y for programs, childcare, and community.

This is not a new concept. Beginning in 2016, our YMCA team proposed a partnership with the City of Grove City to expand the Grove City YMCA facilities. In 2019, we presented the idea of a partnership to the Finance Committee of the City Council and have endeavored to stay in communication with the Mayor, City Council, and City administration.

Deepening our partnership would allow us to bring expertise in facility planning, program development, staffing, and operations, offering continuity for the thousands of residents already engaged with the YMCA.

The decision before you is not simply one of where to set bricks and mortar — it’s about maximizing taxpayer dollars, meeting community demand, and creating a vibrant, sustainable space for the next generation. We believe that together we can create a dynamic, welcoming space that strengthens the Grove City community for generations to come. We are ready to collaborate and welcome the opportunity to join you at the planning table to make this vision a reality.

Sincerely,