A STRONG HISTORY OF BUILDING COMMUNITY
Since 1985, the YMCA of Callaway County has been serving the people of the Callaway County area, helping our children grow and develop – working to improve the quality of our lives – striving to build a healthy community based on respect for all persons. A YMCA’s relevance can only be measured by how well it meets the needs and expectations of today’s people.
The YMCA of Callaway County was chartered by the National Council of YMCA’s and the State of Missouri as a not-for-profit corporation. The YMCA started in a leased basement on 5th Street. The majority of our programs were conducted in schools and churches.
In 1996, the YMCA of Callaway County was moved to 715 Nichols Street.
In 1999, the YMCA of Callaway County started a capital campaign. The campaign was to raise 2.1 million dollars to build a new facility. The campaign’s 2.1 million dollar goal was met in June 2001. Construction was started in October 2001. The doors opened October 2002 to a fitness center, locker rooms, a multipurpose room, an aerobic room, a suspended walking track overlooking a 9000 square foot gymnasium that consists of three basketball/volleyball courts and a nursery for young children.
In 2018, we began a a second capital campaign to expand the existing facility to accommodate more programming and the number of members it served. After much planning and generous donors we were able to begin construction in 2020 on a new 23,000 square foot addition to include a new fitness center with new equipment, a multipurpose gymnasium to add to our basketball, volleyball and pickleball offerings, a new larger exercise studio, administrative offices and renovation of child watch and meeting spaces.
In 2021, the completed expansion opened fully to the community. The intentions were to continue to raise funds for an indoor aquatic space and roll right into construction. The unexpected impact of covid in 2020 cancelled all fundraising events and therefore construction. The Y is committed to fulfill the aquatic needs of our community and will strive to resume this fundraising and complete the project.
In 2022, the Y resumed its fundraising activites and strives to bring a premier aquatic facility to Callaway County that will include a place for competitive swim team, swim lessons, recreational programming, therapeutic exercise and more!
The YMCA looks to the future…and the future never looked brighter or more exciting.
