By James Day
The Silver Falls Family YMCA has embarked upon a major fundraising campaign to pay for and construct a new building in which to operate its programs.
Amid challenges to insuring an aging building, the YMCA left its long-time home in the Silverton Community Center in March. The building is currently being leased by the city from the Oregon Military Department. Soon the city, which uses the building for its council meetings, also will be vacating, as will Silverton Area Community Aid. This summer, SACA will be moving from the community center basement to the former location of Ratchet Brewery at the north end of town.
In the meantime, the YMCA has worked with dozens of community partners to stage its programming at alternative sites.
Our Town met with Tim Sinatra, chief executive officer of the Family YMCA of Marion and Polk counties, Silverton board President Chuck White and Kristi Horner, branch director in Silverton in March.
Sinatra emphasized that with the successful opening of the new $46.5 million downtown facility in Salem, the regional operation is turning its attention to “the east and west,” meaning operations in Silverton and Monmouth.
But not to fix anything that is broken.
“We’re trying to set this up for the next 30 to 50 years,” said Sinatra, who has spent the majority of his 34-year career with the YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs.
“And it’s not the government doing it. It’s the community. We have skin in the game. Change is inevitable but progress is optional. It shouldn’t be optional. You’ve got to take a bigger step.”
White, who has been affiliated with the YMCA in Silverton since the 1990s, noted that “we knew the community center was temporary. It’s always been at the back of my mind to build a separate facility. We’re trying to be proactive here.”
Discussions still are underway regarding what such a “separate facility” might look like, where it might be built and what partnerships and collaboration might be involved to pull it together. Sinatra and the other YMCA officials noted neither timelines nor costs are in place yet. And many questions still must be answered. What might those partnerships look like? Might it be possible to build on donated land? And what type of building makes the most sense?
Sinatra also suggested a hub and spokes model also might work, with a Butler building (a pre-engineered metal structure) as the center hub and other sites spread around the community.
“Our biggest concern,” he said, “is how do we get from here to there and maintain the great programs we have. And it’s not just a Y deal. There is a way to win, we just have to find it.”
The benefits, Sinatra said, are tangible and reachable.
“You will feel it when the doors open.”
Silver Falls Family Y Soiree
Thursday, May 2, 6 to 8 p.m.
The Farm on Golden Hill
11506 Kaufman Road, Silverton
$75 for an individual, $500 for a table of eight
Includes: Heavy hors d’ oeuvres, drinks and entertainment by Move the Needle
Auction items: community experiences, including Pickleball and Pints, Wellness Day, a ceramics workshop, a backyard BBQ, basketball clinics and more
Tickets: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E354467&id=31
Information: 503-873-6456
