Ground-breaking held for Sikeston YMCA to begin upgrade project

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Thanks in part to a $2 million gift, the YMCA of Southeast Missouri announced Monday it will hold a ground-breaking ceremony for a major upgrade to the family center in Sikeston.

The project was pushed forward thanks to a $2 million contribution this spring from June Barton in memory of her late husband, David M. Barton. Other donors and volunteers helped raise $7.8 million for the project. The YMCA received several six-figure donations, according to Jeff Partridge, the director for the YMCA facility. He said the current YMCA runs out of the old middle school gymnasium, which provides 13,000 square feet. Once construction is complete on the facility in 16 to 18 months, the building will expand to 52,000 square feet. It will include an indoor water facility with slides, a six-lane pool and numerous other amenities, including a rock-climbing wall, a walking track and classrooms.

At one point, Partridge said, the YMCA was considering doing the project in two phases, but that's no longer necessary thanks to Barton's gift.

"Not only can we build the entire facility, but we won't have to cut corners," Partridge said. He added that money left over will be used to form an endowment that will "secure the long-term stability of the Y."

The YMCA opened in 1995 as a storefront operation, Partridge said, with an office and a computer. Activities were held at various places throughout the community. The YMCA purchased the school property in 1998.

About 750 members use the building now. More than 4,000 people participate in various programs, he said.

The original fundraising goal was $6 million. At one point contributions had slowed despite a $900,000 "challenge grant" offered by a group called the MABEE Foundation. Barton's donation put the YMCA well over the top. The donation was made in the form of land, which was sold for roughly $2 million. The building will be named after David. M. Barton. Another $300,000 was raised after Barton's donation.

The ground-breaking ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday.