Tri-County YMCA adding therapy pool in Ferdinand
The Tri-County YMCA will begin construction on a 3,300-square-foot expansion to the Ferdinand location that will house a therapy pool, sauna, cold therapy, and stretching area.
The expansion project that will be attached to the north side of the Clem and Mary Lange YMCA will house the 15-by-27-foot therapy pool to provide rehabilitation services, personal training, swimming lessons, small group classes and individual workouts. Additionally, the expansion will include outdoor seating and a community gathering area.
Similar to other therapeutic pools in the county, this pool will have a current and, according to YMCA Executive Director Mike Steffe, will help fulfill many of the pool-related services that members request from the health facility.
“In my time here at the Y, most people that come in and ask about a pool, this is what they need,” Steffe said.
It will help people who are unable to bear their weight — whether from injuries or other issues — to be able to exercise and perform therapeutic activities.
The pool will be heated, and Steffe said they will likely have added equipment, like bikes, to be used in the water.
Steffe added that the sauna and cold therapy are services members have requested to support their recovery efforts from strenuous activities.
Construction on the expansion is expected to start within the month, with plans to open it in the summer of 2024. This expansion will bring the facility footprint to 38,000 square feet.
The addition to the Clem and Mary Lange YMCA has been planned over the past year and is being built on the momentum of a significant contribution from a currently unnamed donor. Steffe stated fundraising is still underway for the facility and to contact the Tri-County YMCA if you would like to support the project.
The Tri-County YMCA, chartered in 2003, currently serves over 3,600 members with programs in Dubois, Perry and Spencer counties. The YMCA constructed its current facility in 2011 with an expansion in 2021.
For more information about the Clem and Mary Lange YMCA, visit www.tricountyymca.org.
