On Tuesday, September 10th, the bleachers surrounding the old football field located at 651 W Morgan Avenue in Chesterton found themselves filled for one last event. Community members of all ages and walks of life, elected officials, and Duneland Family YMCA staff gathered to witness the historic groundbreaking event for the new Duneland Family YMCA Healthy Living Campus. This ambitious and innovative project, which will see both adaptive reuse of the former high school and middle school property as well as new construction, is set to reimagine the concept of community wellness. “Today’s groundbreaking ceremony symbolizes more than just the start of a new building; it marks the beginning of a brighter future for our community,” said Duneland Family YMCA CEO Dave Kasarda. “This YMCA 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.”

Joining YMCA speakers at the event were representatives from the Duneland School Corporation, the Duneland Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland Cliffs, Berglund Construction, Moake Park, and elected town and state officials who have expressed their excitement and support of the project. Also throwing their support towards the in-depth, phased project is the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, who have recognized the Duneland Family YMCA Healthy Living Campus as the first project in Northwest Indiana to benefit from being awarded READI2.0 funds, which were allocated by the governor’s office to accelerate shovel-ready projects that will transform communities while improving their quality of life. The Duneland Family YMCA is ecstatic to receive a one-million-dollar grant award while being the first in the region to receive such crucial support to bolster the project. “Support from the IEDC and READI 2.0 funding is crucial to the Duneland Family YMCA Healthy Living Campus as it empowers us to expand our programs and services, ensuring that we can continue to meet the evolving health and wellness needs of our community,” said Kasarda. “This 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.”

 

Having long outgrown the current Duneland Family YMCA site, the new campus will repurpose portions the existing 225,000-square-foot building, with future new construction adding to a planned total 105,000 square-foot facility, which will allow for expanded YMCA programming as well as the inclusion of collocated partners focusing on health, early childhood education, the arts and environment: making this first-of-its-kind YMCA so much more than just a gym. Additionally, the 20-acre community park, sponsored by Cleveland Cliffs, will be open daily to the public. These new features and wealth of opportunities are set to increase not only traffic to the YMCA and their partners, but also to small businesses in the greater Duneland community as well. “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,” said Chairman of the Duneland YMCA, Jim Trout. “The board and I are thrilled to be part of something that will leave a lasting and positive impact for generations to come.”

Generations were in fact on hand to mark the official kickoff of the project with participants ranging in age from lifelong Duneland residents who walked the campus halls as high schoolers decades ago to current YMCA preschoolers on hand to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. The reverberating impact of this legacy project was not lost on YMCA Healthy Living Campus Chairman Elizabeth Adcock, who expressed, “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.”

Local contractor Berglund Construction will oversee the project. Kasarda has referred to the project as a marathon, not a sprint, and it is important to note that select YMCA programming has been and will continue to safely take place on the new campus during the construction phases. “Today is a historic day in Northwest Indiana as we break ground on the Healthy Living Campus,” said President, Building Division and Chief Growth Officer, Berglund Construction Jeff Berglund. “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.”

With the groundbreaking officially underway, the YMCA continues to actively work towards garnering additional support via the YHLC Community Campaign. Those interested in pledging their support and/or keeping up to date with progress at the campus can visit https://yhlcduneland.org.

About the Y

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits, strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 21 million men, women, and children – regardless of age, income, or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has long-standing relationships and a physical presence not just to promise but to deliver lasting personal and social change. More information can be located at www.dunelandymca.org.

About the Duneland YMCA Healthy Living Campus Project

At the Y, we believe that when we devote our full strength to our mission and cause, work in partnership with others, and build on our commitment to the children, families, and underserved people of Duneland, we can address the most pressing issues of our community unlike any other organization. The Healthy Living Campus is combining adaptive reuse and new construction to create a new community hub and park in the heart of Chesterton. With the inclusion of multiple non-profit and healthcare partners, we are building