Village of Sussex, YMCA of Central Waukesha County Partner To Potentially Build Downtown Sussex YMCA in 2018

The Village of Sussex and the YMCA of Central Waukesha County have partnered to explore co-locating a Sussex YMCA with a new Village Hall and the existing Pauline Haass Public Library on the civic campus in 2018. Residents have consistently requested a pool and a YMCA in Sussex for decades and this partnership would bring both of those requests to fruition in downtown Sussex. 

In order to construct a YMCA, partners are needed to contribute to construction costs.

The Village of Sussex is stepping up as that partner to bring a YMCA to downtown Sussex. The partnership under consideration includes a $7 million Village of Sussex contribution toward the $14 million construction cost of the Sussex YMCA.

“The YMCA of Central Waukesha County is appreciative of the generous opportunity to collaborate with the Village of Sussex,” said Chris Becker, CEO of YMCA of Central Waukesha County. “We look forward to serving the northern Waukesha County region with a state of the art facility and programs that will have a profound impact on the community.”

The facility is anticipated to be in the 75,000-square-foot range and will feature an Aquatics Center, Gymnasium, Wellness Center, Indoor Track, Group Exercise/Multi Purpose Studios, Child Watch, Pre-School area and Locker Rooms.  The Y will partner with other community groups, non- profit agencies and local school districts to address community needs and effectively provide programs and services.

The Y will need to raise the remaining funds in order to construct the Sussex Y, according to Becker.

“We have extensive fundraising to do and will be seeking leadership to conduct a significant Capital Campaign to raise the balance of the funds needed to complete the project,” Becker said. “The lead gift is incredibly generous and gets us closer to our goal.  Through feasibility work it was loud and clear that the region needs and deserves a YMCA and we look forward to working with local philanthropists to make this dream become a reality.”

The YMCA would be located in a connected campus setting with a new Village Hall. A Sussex YMCA was previously proposed for highways 164 and K. However, a downtown YMCA is more pedestrian friendly and easily accessible for those using the Bug Line Trail.

“A YMCA in downtown Sussex means our children and grandchildren can walk or bike to the Y safely,” said Village President Greg Goetz. “We plan to make Sussex even more pedestrian friendly by adding more paths and sidewalks connecting neighborhoods to Main Street in the future.”

A Y typically generates 1,000 daily visits. The YMCA of Central Waukesha County anticipates adding about 15 full time and 200+ part-time, private sector jobs, which will fuel economic development in Sussex.

The Y is the nation’s leading non-profit committed to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. We are a powerful association of men, women and children joined together by a shared commitment to strengthen the communities we serve.  At the Y, we measure the success of our cause by how well we engage communities in our three areas of focus:

• Youth Development - Nurturing every child and teen.

• Healthy Living - Improving the communities' health and well being.

• Social Responsibility - Giving back & supporting others.

The Village would not operate the YMCA and therefore would not pay towards the ongoing operational costs. It can cost around $1 million a year for communities to operate similar facilities. The one-time investment of $7 million will result in a tax increase for a $280,000 home of less than $12 each year for 15 years. If the Village of Sussex operated a comparable facility it would result in a more significant tax increase of around $250 a year for each home in perpetuity.

Sussex residents will receive a discounted membership to the Sussex Y for a specified period of time. The dollar amount of the discount and the length of time it is available have not yet been negotiated.

“This project is really a win-win,” said Village Trustee Pat Tetzlaff. “We get a pool, fitness center and gym in the heart of downtown without having to pay to operate it forever.”

“The quality of life in the community is a major factor in attracting new residents and new businesses,” said Dr. Kathleen M. Cooke, superintendent for the Hamilton School District. “A pool is perceived by many as a community asset and has been a subject of discussion in the area for decades. The school district receives many requests for community use of gym space that we cannot accommodate due to student use. This unique partnership will provide the community with access not only to a pool but much needed gym space and community meeting rooms.”

The Village of Sussex is also exploring the possibility of several other key community partners locating on the Civic Campus, such as the Food Pantry, Chamber of Commerce and added space for the Library.

“A YMCA in downtown Sussex will enhance the quality of life for Sussex residents – it will bring recreation opportunities, a pool, economic development and vibrancy. We can’t wait to continue exploring this partnership,” stated Trustee Bob Zarzynski.

A citizen advisory committee will be formed at a Village Board meeting in the next month. This committee will consider options for the Village Hall space at the civic campus and make a recommendation to the Village Board in late 2014 or early 2015. Residents will have many opportunities to comment on this proposal before a final decision is made by the Village Board. Upcoming meetings on this topic will be announced on the Village website.