Capital Campaign

STRONGER DUNELAND. BETTER TOGETHER.

This Is About More Than A YMCA. This Is About Community.

For 60 years, the Duneland Family YMCA has grown alongside our community. Now, we have an opportunity to create a lasting legacy through the new Duneland YMCA Healthy Living Campus.

With a $12 million matching commitment, every gift can make an even greater impact. Thanks to generous community support, we’ve made tremendous progress, but there’s still work to do.

LOCATIONS:

  • The NEW Duneland Family YMCA “Duneland Family YMCA Healthy Living Campus” is located in the former Chesterton Middle School at 651 W Morgan Avenue, Chesterton, Indiana 46304. The NEW location is currently serving members and non-members in Aquatics, Art & Enrichment, Senior Programs, Summer Camps, Youth Sports, and Shared Services. 
  • The Current Duneland Family YMCA at 215 Roosevelt Street, Chesterton, Indiana 46304 is still fully operating as a YMCA, serving members and non-members. Future use and plans for the current location have not been determined. We look forward to sharing exciting updates as plans become available!
  • The Forchetti Family YMCA Center for Early Learning is located at 270 E Burdick Road, Chesterton, Indiana 46304 offering full day and half day state licensed early childhood development for children ages six weeks to five years old, preparing them for kindergarten with academic, social/emotional, and motor skill development. 

The Duneland Family YMCA, Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING, and SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

JOIN OUR MISSION. DONATE NOW.

A PLACE FOR ALL

The new Duneland YMCA Healthy Living Campus is about people. Children learning and gaining confidence. Teens finding a place to belong. Families building healthy habits. Older adults staying active and connected. Neighbors coming together.

It is also an investment in downtown Chesterton and the future of our community, creating a welcoming place designed to serve everyone, regardless of financial circumstances. When our children have opportunities, our families are healthier, our older adults stay connected and everyone has a place to belong, all of Duneland is stronger, together.

CONCEPTS/RENDERINGS

FAQS

Demolition was completed Winter of 2024. Sitework, sidewalks and parking lots were completed Winter of 2025. We plan to open the new facility early 2028.

The current phase of the project is being funded by generous donors who believe in the work of the Y’s impact on the Duneland and surrounding communities. The completion of this project and future phases will require raising additional funds. We welcome all donations, opportunities for room/area sponsorships, and match programs. If you are interested in helping to create a life-changing YMCA for our community, please contact Dave Kasarda, CEO of Duneland YMCA, at [email protected] or call (219)926-4204. See CAPTIAL CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES section below.

We are currently operating programs and classes at the current location and limited programs and classes at the new location. Current Duneland YMCA members will benefit from upgraded facilities and expanded program offerings and services. At this time, an increase in membership and/or program fees have not been determined.

We are currently operating as a YMCA until the new facility is complete. We have outgrown our current location, which needs extensive renovations and additions to fully service the community like the new location will be able to do. We are grateful that our current location has been our home for many years and look forward to growing into our new location for many more years to come! Future use and plans have not been determined.

ALL plans, drawings, photos, and named areas of the project are only concepts at this time and subject to change. We are still working through final details and will share more information soon.

Berglund Construction is the construction manager for this project. Construction and demolition questions can be directed to [email protected]. Press, media, and marketing questions can be directed to Jenna Hunter at [email protected].

NOW WE NEED DUNELAND.

Every gift matters, and every donor becomes part of this story. Pledges can be paid over five years, with naming and recognition opportunities available. Together, we can finish what we started and create a lasting legacy for generations to come.

We welcome all donations, opportunities for room/area sponsorships, and match programs. If you are interested in helping to create a life-changing YMCA for our community, please contact Dave Kasarda, CEO of Duneland YMCA, at [email protected]

JOIN OUR MISSION. DONATE NOW.
K. Nevers
K. NeversTown of Chesterton
...THE MOST INNOVATIVE & VISIONARY PARTNERSHIP IN THE TOWN OF CHESTERTON'S HISTORY.
Zack Wellsand
Zack WellsandWellsand Landscaping & Hardscapes
I definitely think the Healthy Living Campus will be the center of the town. I'm most excited for the community to have access to all the amenities the campus will provide. I think investing in this project is important for the future of this town. There will be so many avenues for child development, physically, mentally and socially. Investing and creating the right spaces for leaders to teach and coach our kids how to be good humans is ultimately the best legacy a whole community could leave behind for generations to come.
Wess Audsley
Wess AudsleyAmerican City Bureau
In its contemporary form and inclusive function, the YHLC will serve as an education, health, and social equity hub for the residents of the Duneland communities and an example of what is possible for the YMCA as a Movement and the communities local Ys serve across the country.
Tony Forchetti
Tony Forchetti
It will now become a focal point for the community and allow growth in all sorts of ways beyond the campus, which is fantastic!
Mark Chamberlain
Mark ChamberlainCAPTRUST
I’m so excited about the possibilities at the YMCA Healthy Living Campus because the partnerships being formed there will provide something for everyone!
Elissa Dortmund
Elissa DortmundDuneland Education Foundation
Our foundation shares the same goals of enhancing educational experiences with the Duneland community and being able to give youth a place to enhance their learning through STEM. I am excited to see the STEM program in action at this incredible campus!
Linnea Forchetti
Linnea Forchetti
We think this is a wonderful concept and so much more than just a Y! We are hopeful that this project will ignite a spark in the community that ripples throughout the downtown area. The community has been so good to us, to our kids, that it is important for us to give back by investing in the Y!
DeAnna Wellsand
DeAnna WellsandWellsand Landscaping & Hardscapes
When I hear ‘Healthy Living Campus,’ it’s exciting to imagine how this project will function as a campus and not just a YMCA. The idea that Chesterton can be a forerunner to model to other communities what a healthy living campus actually is, has me excited for the possibilities that our YMCA will be the best in our region!
Jeff Berglund
Jeff BerglundBerglund Construction
We are proud to be the construction manager of this innovative development. We value our close partnership with the Duneland YMCA and will work alongside the Y to ensure the community is brought along through the construction process. We look forward to a safe and productive project. We are cognizant of the importance of this work not only for the Healthy Living Campus but also for Chesterton overall.
Dave Kasarda
Dave KasardaDuneland Family YMCA
This is the beginning of a brighter future for our community. The Duneland YMCA Healthy Living Campus will be a beacon of hope and a hub of opportunity, fostering growth, unity, and wellness for every individual we serve. Each shovel of earth turned is a step toward enriching lives and strengthening our community fabric. Every investment supports innovative approaches to healthy living, strengthens our capacity for outreach, and allows us to create a more inclusive environment where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
Jim Trout
Jim Trout2024 YMCA Chairman of the Board
This groundbreaking represents a significant step towards the Y's part in the strengthening our community, fostering economic growth, and deepening our commitment of stewardship and connection within the Duneland Community. The board and I are thrilled to be part of something that will leave a lasting and positive impact for generations to come.
Elizabeth Adcock
Elizabeth AdcockFormer Chairman of the Board
It’s emotional to see this dream become a reality for this community. The impact of the Healthy Living Campus will be measurable, and I anticipate it will exceed any expectations that we have had to this point.