By Ben Rayner, Sound Senior Staff Writer:
The fundraising campaign to build a new, regional family
fitness facility got a major boost last week when Soundview YMCA officials
announced that $550,000 has been allocated to the project by state legislators,
with the possibility of another $300,000 to come.
Plans eventually call for a 50,000-square-foot building on
Rt. 1 at the former Hilltop Orchards site that will include pools, exercise
rooms, meeting rooms, offices, and more. Initial construction may only erect a
30,000-square-foot facility, but the proposed plans also include hiking trails
and room for other innovative features as the complex expands with future
generations.
YMCA officials and town and state leaders expressed their
gratitude to Democrats State Senator Ed Meyer and State Representative Pat
Widlitz at a ceremony last week at the site of the new YMCA on Route 1. The two
were lauded as instrumental in helping secure more than $550,000 for the new
Soundview YMCA.
Branford First Selectman Unk DaRos (D) said the YMCA
proposal had been discussed during his first term in office and he was glad to
finally see the efforts gain momentum.
“This is a great project. I remember when I was in office
the last time, folks trying to get this together,” said DaRos. “It finally got
off the ground and it’s great to see. They are in a great spot, centrally
located for the five towns. Thanks should go to Ed Meyer and Pat Widlitz; they
got the House and Senate to realize how important this place will be to the
region.”
Widlitz said the efforts by her and Meyer were needed so
that other state legislators, who were unfamiliar with the need, could
understand why the facility is so vital to the region.
“The community here has been working for 40 years to bring
this to fruition,” said Widlitz. “We put tremendous pressure on the leadership;
we really ratcheted up the pressure. They came through for us and it’s nice to
win one once in awhile.”
The facility will serve Branford, North Branford, Guilford, East Haven, and Madison. For more info, visit
www.soundviewymca.org.
Widlitz and Meyer are both running for re-election in
November; Widlitz is unopposed while Meyer faces Republican challenger Ryan Suerth.