South Shore YMCA Announces Plans to Expand the Hale Family Y in Quincy

The South Shore YMCA has announced plans to expand its Hale Family YMCA branch in Quincy to serve the growing and ever-changing needs of the community.

This is the latest of the South Shore YMCA’s ongoing Leave Your Mark capital campaign projects and includes a conceptual design which adds 20,000 square feet to the existing building on Coddington Street.

In 2019, the South Shore YMCA launched its bold Leave Your Mark capital campaign, which has raised more than $12 million for key transformational projects across the South Shore, including site expansion and vital renovations designed to improve and expand the Y’s core offerings. Completed projects include the new Outdoor Aquatic Center in Hanover and Nature Center Preschool building in Norwell.

Both the campaign and its projects were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Due to inflation and the rising cost of building materials, the South Shore YMCA is raising additional funds to complete these planned projects to better serve the community.

As part of the Hale Family Y expansion are plans for a new large-scale gymnastics center, dedicated teen programming space, and additional space for group exercise.

A new gymnastics center will fill a void that exists within the city of Quincy, said Katelyn Szafir, Executive Director of the Hale Family YMCA.

“Adding a new gymnastics center to our Y will provide new opportunities for today’s youth to be part of something positive, both mentally and physically, and will provide a sense of empowerment for local girls and young women,” said Szafir. The gymnastics center will also include cheering and dance programs, and a mentoring space.

In addition, the expansion will cater to the growing teen population that visit the Hale Family Y during afterschool hours, allowing for new programming to keep teens active and safe, such as teen advisory boards and leadership programs.

“With our teen visits averaging over 400 a day, our Y Briggs Family Field House needs additional space for teen enrichment, providing teens with a safe and positive place of their own,” added Szafir.

Plans for the additional space also underscore the trending need for additional group exercise space, as the Y sees an average of 7,000 individuals participating per month in Quincy.

“The demand for in-person classes and physical well-being has skyrocketed within all age groups here at our Y, especially our active seniors,” said Szafir.

The scope and design of the new space will be solidified in spring of 2025 and the Y hopes to break ground in late fall 2025 and occupy the space in early 2026.

For information on how to leave your mark on the Hale Family Y expansion project through a meaningful gift, contact South Shore YMCA’s Chief Development Officer, Mary Orne, at morne@ssymca.org, or Hale Family YMCA’s Executive Director, Katelyn Szafir, at kszafir@ssymca.org.