YMCA To Stay Put, Overhaul Fairless Hills Building

When the YMCA of Bucks County began to back away from unpopular plans to construct a new facility on county park land in Falls Township, they turned their eyes back to their aging Lower Bucks Family YMCA facility along South Oxford Valley Road in Bristol Township’s Fairless Hills section.

Zane Moore, CEO of the YMCA of Bucks County, a merged organization formed in 2018 by the Lower Bucks Family YMCA, Central Bucks YMCA, and Upper Bucks YMCA, explained that an aerial view of the site from a drone helped change the mind of organization officials.

While the organization had planned to tear down and sell the property, the new perspective on the 2.4 acre YMCA site began to come into focus. From there, plans for an overhaul of the site were underway.

Although it was an architectural challenge, YMCA of Bucks County officials announced Wednesday that they plan to completely renovate their existing facility and make it more modern.

The YMCA of Bucks County plans to make their building more open and expand the popular fitness center, add a new universal locker room, create additional program space, design a community gathering area, and rework the parking lot. Along with the interior, the outside of the brick building will have a whole new look with large street-facing windows and modern design features.

As plans were displayed for Bristol Township officials in August, an architect for the YMCA said the 52,000-square-foot building has had additions over the years and is a bit difficult to navigate. The plans call for demolishing a portion of the building against the parking lot while adding onto the side closer to South Queen Anne Drive. Due to efficient design, the upgraded YMCA will likely be a bit smaller in square footage but feel more spacious.

Moore said that work at the Bristol Township facility could begin as soon as spring, adding it could take as long as two years to finish the work.

The update and overhaul should give the community something to be proud of, Moore, a Lower Bucks County native, said.

Overall, the YMCA is raising $20 million – $15 million for capital improvement upgrades mainly in Fairless Hills and an overhaul at their Doylestown branch and $5 million to support programs for the community. So far, a low-key campaign to raise funds has netted $16.5 million with a public campaign expected to raise the remaining funds.

“We’ve been inspired by the support of the community for our campaign to fund these building projects and are excited to cross the campaign finish line in the coming months the community’s continued support,” Moore said.

The Bucks County Industrial Development Authority has allotted $20 million in low-interest, tax-free financing for the project. They funds will refinance about $10 million in existing debt, support the improvement to the Bristol Township and Doylestown YMCA branches, and invest the organization’s community programs.

Mary Smithson, chair of the Bucks County Industrial Development Authority, explained that the $20 million is provided by the authority through the state. The local authority awards the funds to projects that are designed to positively impact the community.

The Bristol Township YMCA location has more than 6,600 members and impacts thousands more through programs it is involved with, officials said.

The Lower Bucks YMCA formed in 1935 when Bristol Borough High School students began an effort to bring the organization to the area. The YMCA of Bristol incorporated in 1948 and opened at their current site in 1960.

Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia said she was born in 1960, and she joked that both her and the building “could use some retrofitting.”

Bucks County Commissioner Chairman said the YMCA has played a special role in his family and he was proud to see the organization updating its facilities.

Moore said that although plans were now in focus, there was “still a long road ahead of us.”