Reimagining the Uniontown YMCA

A Note from Our CEO

A Personal Invitation

Casey Leone

President & CEO, Uniontown Area YMCA

“I’ve called Fayette County home for 32 years, and for the past 17, I’ve had the privilege of working at the Uniontown Area YMCA. As cliché as it may sound, the Y truly is my home.”

Through our swim lesson program, I’ve taught thousands of children and adults a critical life skill. I’ve mentored hundreds of campers through our summer day camp. And now, I get to share swim class with my one-year-old son, Camden, right here at the Y.

The Uniontown Area YMCA has given me more than I could have ever imagined. It’s been a place of growth, purpose, and deep community connection. Now, we have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to build for the next generation.

By investing in a stronger facility and sustainable programs, we can meet Fayette County’s evolving needs and ensure that every child, every family, and every neighbor has access to wellness, safety, and belonging.

Your support makes that possible. Every gift to this campaign helps us open more doors, change more lives, and strengthen our community for years to come.

Casey Leone
President & CEO, Uniontown Area YMCA

Our Vision

A Bright, Welcoming Community Hub for All

The Uniontown Area YMCA is more than a gym. It’s Fayette County’s trusted community hub. Our YMCA is a place where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities come to connect, grow, and thrive. But our 40-year-old facility no longer reflects the energy, potential, or needs of the families who rely on us.

With community-informed design, phased construction, and flexible programming spaces, this transformation will better support health, youth development, family connection, and economic resilience.

Current Facility Current YMCA aerial view

Reimagined Campus Reimagined YMCA aerial rendering

45,800

Sq. Ft. Renovated

~10,000

Sq. Ft. New Construction

6,420

Sq. Ft. Pickleball Pavilion

1,325

Sq. Ft. Therapy Pool Wing

2,200

Sq. Ft. Entry Spine & Commons

2,235

Sq. Ft. Climbing & Multi-Purpose Loft

A Growing Need

Why Now? Because the Needs Are Real.

Our 40-year-old building no longer matches the energy, mission, or needs of the community it serves. Deferred maintenance has reached a tipping point.

Aging Facility

Failing mechanical systems, dim corridors, and outdated infrastructure create a disconnect between our inspired vision and the physical space we offer. Our HVAC system is aging, the roof and locker rooms show years of wear, and the current layout restricts growth.

Limited Program Space

With only a single wellness studio and outdated facilities, we are limited in how many classes we can offer, how comfortably members can transition between activities, and how easily people can connect and build community.

Missing Key Amenities

We lack a therapy pool, a designated teen space, and full ADA compliance. These gaps undermine our mission of inclusion — preventing us from fully serving members with injuries, disabilities, or mobility challenges.

Outdoor Courts in Disrepair

Fayette County has only 2–3 public tennis courts, and ours are among the most deteriorated. Rising demand for pickleball and outdoor recreation presents an opportunity for upgraded courts that enable tournaments, partnerships, and year-round engagement.

Lack of Curb Appeal

Our facility lacks a true “sense of arrival.” A redesigned façade and entryway would transform the Y into a beacon of wellness, belonging, and activity — welcoming local events, hosting pop-up classes, and integrating with farmers markets.

Gaps in Gathering Space

There is no space for intergenerational connection, quiet reflection, or community events. Our current layout lacks the flexible rooms and commons areas that families and members are asking for.

The need is clear. The time is now.

New Spaces

Designed for Purpose and Impact

Every new and renovated space in the reimagined YMCA has been designed with community input, operational efficiency, and long-term flexibility in mind.

Phase 1

Two-Story Entry Spine

A central “main street” corridor filled with natural light, community seating, and clear sightlines into the gym and studios. This welcoming hub features cozy corners for conversation, remote work, or a post-class coffee break. Designed to stand alone as Phase 1, it signals a bold new beginning.

New Addition

Indoor Pickleball Pavilion & Auxiliary Gym

A three-court pavilion meets the surging demand for pickleball while freeing up the main gym for basketball and open play. These spaces expand programming without sacrificing flexibility, inviting all ages to move, play, and connect.

East Wing

Therapy & Lap Pools

A new natatorium on the east wing includes warm-water therapy and lap lanes, unlocking partnerships with local healthcare providers. These pools support rehabilitation, senior wellness, youth swim safety, and year-round exercise.

Upgraded

Modern Locker Rooms

Clean, dignified, and accessible locker rooms will feature family changing spaces, ADA-compliant amenities, and energy-efficient upgrades, supporting wellness, safety, and comfort for all.

Relocated

Modernized Childcare Wing & Kids Zone

Childcare will relocate to a new, secure space near the entry spine — providing safe, modern rooms for infants through school-age children. A Kids Zone allows children to play nearby while caregivers attend classes, and opens opportunities for a healthcare tenant in the former childcare wing.

Reimagined

Open-Concept Fitness Area

The heart of our wellness mission, this reimagined space will improve flow, accessibility, and natural light, with intuitive zones for cardio, strength, and group fitness.

Multi-Use

Flexible Studios & Community Rooms

Designed for multi-use impact — from group fitness and teen leadership labs to birthday parties, wellness workshops, and intergenerational programs. These rooms will be alive with activity every day.

Outdoor

Outdoor Courts & Modern Façade

Improved basketball and pickleball courts will support after-school play, weekend tournaments, and community-wide events. A modern façade with durable wood-look fiber cement and insulated panels will elevate curb appeal and reflect the pride of Uniontown.

New Programs

Programs That Grow with Our Community

Designed not just to improve facilities, but to expand access to life-changing programs that support families, youth, and older adults alike.

Youth & Family Programming

After-school care, summer camps, family swim nights, creative arts, and teen leadership labs offering safe, enriching experiences.

Intergenerational Spaces

Shared spaces fostering connection across generations — grandparents, parents, and children engaging in classes, recreation, and community life side by side.

Childcare & Water Safety

Expanded, modernized childcare for working families, plus year-round swim lessons reducing childhood drowning risk with lifesaving skills from infancy through adolescence.

Health & Wellness Partnerships

On-site health screenings, referrals, and educational programs through partnerships with local hospitals, schools, and service providers.

Flexible Studios & Civic Events

Group fitness, wellness workshops, birthday parties, teen leadership, and a refreshed auditorium for youth performances, civic events, and educational sessions.

Community Integration

Farmers markets, pop-up wellness events, chronic disease prevention, and civic programming — turning the Y into a true community health and wellness hub.

Community Impact

Transformational Outcomes for Fayette County

Fayette County faces urgent challenges — and the Uniontown Area YMCA is uniquely positioned to respond with impact-driven solutions.

Healthy Aging

Nearly 1 in 4 residents is over age 65. Without support, this population faces heightened risks of isolation, injury, and declining independence. Our planned warm-water therapy pool and low-impact fitness programs are preventive care that reduces fall-related ER visits and keeps older adults connected and mobile.

Economic Equity & Family Support

With a median household income 23% below the state average and 17.4% of residents living in poverty, many families cannot afford private gyms, sports leagues, or full-time childcare. Sliding-scale memberships make wellness accessible for all. Tax-credit-backed youth programs and year-round childcare support working parents.

Youth Safety & Development

Drowning is a leading cause of death among young children. Yet swimming lessons reduce the risk by 80%. The Y offers monthly swim programs for children ages 3 months to 12 years, ensuring life-saving skills are taught early and often. After-school and summer programs provide safe, enriching environments.

Chronic Disease Prevention

With an obesity rate over 37%, Fayette County faces rising rates of diabetes, heart disease, and mobility issues. The Y delivers evidence-based health programs including the CDC-approved Diabetes Prevention Program, proven to cut new-onset diabetes by up to 58%, and aquatic arthritis classes.

More Than a Building

A Promise to Our Community

This is our vision for the Uniontown Area YMCA. A place to belong, to build health and hope, and to serve every neighbor with dignity.

A parent drops their toddler at the Kids Zone, then joins a spin class upstairs.

A grandparent and grandchild learn to swim together in a warm, accessible pool.

A local teen gains confidence through after-school mentoring and youth leadership labs.

A small business owner leads a pop-up wellness event, or a hospital partners on chronic disease prevention.

The entire community gathers for a farmers market, a civic event, or just a cup of coffee in the lobby.

Voices from the Community

Why We Build

I’m so grateful to our Uniontown YMCA. My daughter, Evie, started in their Parent and Child Class at 18 months and by 3 years old she could swim without any floatation device. At age 4, Evie joined swim team, and it has been the most positive experience. It’s boosted her confidence and has given us a sense of community amongst the team.

Megan Rebick

Swim Team Parent

My name is Sherry Maczko, and this August I will be celebrating 10 years of working at the YMCA. Helping others has always been a passion of mine. One of the most rewarding parts of my work at the YMCA is watching the children grow and thrive. It’s a privilege to contribute to a place that makes such a meaningful impact in our community.

Sherry Maczko

Uniontown YMCA Childcare

When our children were little, I got reconnected with the YMCA. As I became a more active member, I started to recognize the Y’s beneficial effects on individuals and the community. Supporting this cause comes with the need to raise not only awareness, but also the funding the facility and to continue our outreach to a community that has growing and changing needs.

Reid A. Smith

Director – Uniontown Office, Bridgeway Capital & Board Member

Project Progression

Built to Grow: Flexible, Fundable

Our approach ensures that each step delivers tangible benefits to members, strengthens community impact, and builds momentum toward the full vision. Every part of the project can stand on its own — fundable and functional.

Step 1

Essential Upgrades

$4.5–5M

Renovate 45,800 sq. ft., create a welcoming two-story entry spine and commons, relocate childcare for improved safety and program efficiency, modernize the wellness areas, and upgrade mechanical systems to improve comfort and reduce operating costs.

Step 2

Signature Additions

$2–2.5M

Add 6,420 sq. ft. Pickleball Pavilion (3 courts), a 1,325 sq. ft. Therapy Pool Wing, and a new facade and entryway to enhance curb appeal and create opportunities for outdoor events and farmers markets.

Step 3

Aquatics Expansion

$2.5–3M

Construct a new natatorium with lap lanes, family swim space, and expanded aquatic programming, enabling rehabilitation partnerships and year-round swim opportunities for all ages.

Step 4

Endowment & Innovation

$0.5M

Seed a donor-advised fund to secure long-term stability and launch equity-focused pilot programs that respond to emerging community needs.

Estimated Total Project Investment

~$10 Million

Campaign Timeline

Our Path Forward

Our fundraising campaign is designed to move swiftly and strategically, with each phase timed to ensure progress without debt.

October 2024

Kickoff: Roof Replacement

Installed in response to facility deterioration and safety needs. Complete!

2025 – 2026

Readiness Phase

Finalize renderings, naming menu, cultivate lead donors, submit ARC, LSA, USDA pre-apps.

2026 – 2027

Early Investors

Secure 60% of funding goal, activate major donor pledges, launch matching challenge.

Early 2028

Public Campaign

Community-wide appeal, celebration events, local press engagement.

Mid–Late 2028

Construction Begins

Phased build begins with core spine and wellness spaces.

Late 2028 (Target)

Ribbon-Cutting

Grand opening celebrations and first programs launched in new spaces.

Our Community.Our Y. Our Future.