North Penn YMCA Association History

Association History

1945 The YMCA spirit touched the North Penn area with the formulation of
the Lansdale Youth Center. The teen youth center helped to meet the social
and recreational needs of the community's young people.

1955 The YMCA made its first official local appearance with the incorporation of the North Penn YMCA. This stage of development was lead by Senator Edwin G. Holl who had been president of the Youth Council and became the first president of this YMCA.

1957 A seven-acre land tract in Lansdale was acquired through donation.
A private home on the property served as the YMCA headquarters and program center while leaders dreamed of a building to better serve the growing needs.

1963 More than 800 area residents witnessed the culmination of a dream when the YMCA doors swung open on October 6th. As the YMCA grew over the years, this main facility of the Y became known as the Lansdale Branch of the North Penn YMCA.

1970 The first addition to the Lansdale Branch included a second swimming pool, fitness center, additional locker rooms and an enlarged parking lot.

1981 A third capital campaign was conducted at the Lansdale Branch to provide funding for major energy conservation measures, roofing and lighting improvements and the conversion of the multi-purpose room in to a mini-gymnasium.

1986 The YMCA closed this fiscal year with the first cash surplus in recent history. All pre-school programs and babysitting were assembled from different locations and placed together in the front of the main building. The Harleysville Branch was established at 311 Alumni Avenue in Lower Salford Township. This 3500 sq/ft historic building was the former Lower Salford Senior Center and was the site for YMCA nursery school and aerobics programs.

1987 The YMCA Board of Directors approved a development plan that was one of the most ambitious undertakings in the YMCA's history. The board approved a capital expansion program that included the addition of more facility space to the Lansdale Branch.

1994 The first Long Range Strategic Plan with input form board leaders and staff directors was developed outlining future goals and objectives for the association.

1998 The YMCA Board of Directors approved a project to build a third branch. The Indian Valley Family YMCA will be the first YMCA branch in the United States slated to open on the campus of a full retirement community.

2000 The YMCA realizes the largest operating budget surplus ($300,000) since inception.

2003 On December 13th, the Indian Valley Family YMCA Branch opens with over 1,600 community members attending the grand opening. By year-end, this branch has over 6,000 members.

2004 October 14th, the former LaCrest Health Spa becomes part of the North Penn YMCA family. This 25,000 sq/ft facility is leased space located in the Hillcrest Shopping Center in Lansdale and provides another full facility site for YMCA members to utilize.

2006 Phase II of Indian Valley Family YMCA Branch is completed and includes a new gym, wellness center expansion and community rooms.