A new fund has officially been established for residents who wish to contribute to Bonney Lake’s efforts to bring a YMCA to the city.
Councilwoman Laurie Carter, who has been collecting donated change in a piggy bank for much of 2010, announced Jan. 4 the new fund had been opened with $100 collected from the piggy bank.
Presently, two YMCA facilities are set for Sumner and Bonney Lake, scheduled to open in 2013 and 2018, respectively.
Carter said she has been contacted by residents who want to contribute to the facility but until now, there was no place to send donations.
“Now we have a place,” Carter said.
The YMCA traditionally constructs one building at a time and the current plan is to open the Sumner facility before one in Bonney Lake.
But the openings are tied primarily to fundraising. So far, the city of Sumner has pledged $2.5 million for the project and has had land donated at the corner of state Route 410 and Wall Road in an area known as Orton Junction. The city also does not have the money in hand for its pledged donation.
Sumner’s YMCA is projected to be between 50,000 and 70,000 square feet at a cost of $13 million to $18 million.
The YMCA anticipates breaking ground on the facility in 2012. The area is not currently within Sumner city limits or the city’s Urban Growth Area, but the city expects to apply for amendments to the UGA this month.
Bonney Lake’s facility is estimated to cost between $8 million and $13 million for a 30,000-to 50,000-square-foot building, tentatively scheduled for placement in the former Washington State University Demonstration Forest, which has already been rezoned for the purpose.
In addition, in its 2011 budget Bonney Lake allocated $1 million from its fund balance to be donated for the facility.
Bonney Lake officials hope to persuade the YMCA to build the Bonney Lake facility first.
To support the Bonney Lake YMCA fund, send a contribution to the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap counties and be sure to make a note stating “restrict to fund for Bonney Lake YMCA.” Checks can be made payable to YMCA and sent to 1614 S. Mildred St., Suite 1, Tacoma, 98465.
