KING WILLIAM — The King William County Board of Supervisors is considering a YMCA in the more rural northern part of the county.
Skip Ferebee of the YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas outlined the next steps toward establishing a center in the county at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Aug. 25.
King William County has a YMCA at its southern end in the town of West Point, but a large rural area around Central Garage lacks such facilities.
A developer contacted the YMCA a few years ago about the possibility, prompting a market study that was conducted from June to September 2024. About 400 residents responded, indicating “a very strong potential for establishing a YMCA in King William County,” Ferebee said. “The community needs it.”
““It would be a strategic addition to the YMCA of Virginia Peninsulas and serves a vital community hub for King William County,” Ferebee added.
Studies indicate a YMCA in upper King William County would attract 1,600 to 2,000 members within the first 18 to 24 months. “That’s important because the YMCA needs to be sustainable … it also demonstrated promising growth,” Ferebee said.
The study considered the impact of a new center on existing YMCAs such as the one in West Point. Ferebee said it would not have a detrimental effect.
The study found 89% of respondents showed an interest in joining a community hub.
“The community faces significant challenges such as mental health issues, substance abuse and social isolation,” Ferebee said. He said a YMCA is now a community hub as much as a fitness center, and people want a place to go to.
Notwithstanding the enthusiasm for another YMCA in King William County, Ferebee said the timeline would depend on funding and “community development engagement.”
He said the next step would be a non-binding letter of intent allowing due diligence and “community development engagement” to gauge community support as well as financial backing. “If there’s no financial support, the Y doesn’t get built,” he told the board.
The board unanimously agreed at its meeting to issue a non-binding letter of intent. “I don’t think it will hurt,” said Vice Chair Lindsay Robinson.
David Macaulay, Davidmacaulayva@gmail.com
https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/09/03/king-william-considers-ymca-for-rural-county/
