Freehold Y will build facility in Old Bridge

OLD BRIDGE - The township's longawaited YMCA will soon become a reality. The YMCA of Western Monmouth County Board of Directors voted unanimously on Sept. 24 to move forward with the project, which will be built on 12 acres of Peter A. Mannino Park, Route 516.

"The YMCA brings so much more to the community than just the brick and mortar and the pool," Mayor Jim Phillips said. "It's also the programs that come along with the YMCA."

The YMCA of Western Monmouth County has its headquarters in Freehold Township.

Phillips said the 30,760-square-foot facility would be equipped to serve all ages with its recreational programs. In addition to an eight-lane Olympic-size swimming pool, the YMCA will also house a 2,500-square-foot wellness center, full-size gymnasium, weight training room, fitness center, running tracks, a spa, child-care station and locker rooms.

Cynthia Joy, executive director of the YMCA, said the agreement between Old Bridge and the redevelopment agency was scheduled to be ratified by the Township Council. The contract is expected to be awarded soon after, at which time the contractor will be announced.

Groundbreaking for the facility is slated for the next few weeks if all goes as expected, Joy said. From there, the YMCA should be completed within a year.

"Old Bridge has just been a wonderful town, and Mayor Phillips and the council can't do enough to work together with us to bring needed programs," Joy said.

The $8 million project has received funding from several sources. A $3 million grant from Middlesex County for a municipal pool will go toward the aquatic center, and another $500,000 from the county for infrastructure helped ready the site for building. It also funded street lighting, parking and drainage at the site, Phillips said. The town's Rotary Club has pledged $500,000 toward the project.

Along with money gleaned from fundraising, the remainder of the project will be financed by the YMCA, according to Phillips.

As part of the partnership between the township and the YMCA, Old Bridge is leasing the 12-acre site to the organization at no cost.

The process of bringing the facility to Old Bridge began six years ago, according to Phillips.

"For me personally, it started with my daughter having a leg injury playing soccer," Phillips said.

As part of his daughter Joanne's rehabilitation, she worked out with the high school swim team at the YMCA in Freehold Township, Phillips said. One day at practice, Coach Robert Weiss, who is a police captain in Old Bridge, and Phillips' wife, Janet, questioned why there was no YMCA in Old Bridge.

Since then, officials have worked toward the goal of bringing the facility to town, he said.

- Jessica Smith