On Tuesday, Sept. 10th, the bleachers at the old Chesterton High School’s Troy Field were filled for one final event: The ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Duneland Family YMCA Healthy Living Campus, 651 W. Morgan Ave., Chesterton.
This ambitious, innovative, and transformative project will reimagine the concept of community wellness through the adaptive reuse of the recently decommissioned Chesterton Middle School (and before that the old Chesterton High School).
“Today’s groundbreaking ceremony symbolizes more than just the start of a new building,” Duneland Family YMCA CEO Dave Kasarda said. “It marks the beginning of a brighter future for our community. 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.”
Also speaking at the groundbreaking were representatives of the Duneland School Corporation, the Duneland Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland Cliffs, Berglund Construction, and Moake Park Inc., as well as municipal and state officials who have committed their support for this complex, phased project.
The YMCA in particular wants to recognize the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, which awarded a $1 million READI 2.0 grant to assist in the development of the YMCA Healthy Living Campus, the first project in Northwest Indiana to receive a READI grant.
“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,” Kasarda said. “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 on Roosevelt Street in Morgan Park, the new campus will repurpose portions of the existing 225,000-square foot building, with future new construction adding a planned total of 105,000 square feet, to allow for expanded YMCA programming as well as the inclusion of collocated partners focusing on health, early childhood education, the arts, and the environment.
In short, this first-of-its-kind YMCA will be so much more than just a gym.
In addition, a 20-acre community park, sponsored by Cleveland Cliffs, will be open daily to the public.
These new features and the wealth of opportunities presented by the facility are expected to increase traffic not only to the YMCA and its partners but also to small businesses in greater Duneland.
“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,” Duneland YMCA Chair Jim Trout said. “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, as lifelong Duneland residents who walked the campus halls as high schoolers decades ago mixed with current YMCA preschoolers leading the Pledge of Allegiance. The reverberating impact of this legacy project was not lost on YMCA Healthy Living Campus Chair Elizabeth Adcock. “It’s emotional to see this dream become a reality for this community,” she said. “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, which Kasarda has referred to as a marathon, not a sprint. It is important to note that the new campus has been hosting, and will continue to host, select YMCA programming during the construction phases. “Today is a historic day in Northwest Indiana as we break ground on the Healthy Living Campus,” Berglund Construction President Jeff Berglund said. “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.”
Dunelanders interested in pledging their support for the support or keeping abreast of its progress may visit https://yhlcduneland.org
