GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA announced today that it will be embarking on an exciting journey in partnership with the Village of Shorewood to build a new state-of-the-art YMCA facility on Route 52 in Shorewood. Construction of the new YMCA facility will begin later this year and is expected to open to the community in 2026.

Located along the thriving Route 52 corridor on land near the Village Hall, the new 60,000-square-foot YMCA facility will feature a wellness center, gymnasium, an eight-lane lap pool, group exercise studios, community rooms, and outdoor spaces for summer camps and youth sports programs. Upon opening, the new facility will also serve as the home for the Y’s Regional Office, which provides support and leadership to all YMCA branches and program sites in Will and Grundy Counties.

“We are very grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Village of Shorewood to grow our mission in Will County,” said Greater Joliet Area YMCA President and CEO Katy Leclair. “Through this innovative partnership, we will work together to build a thriving community center that will provide YMCA members and residents living in Shorewood and the greater Joliet area with access to health and wellness and recreational programming in a welcoming and contemporary space,” added Leclair.

“The Village of Shorewood is very excited to partner with the YMCA to build a new state-of-the-art recreational facility in our community,” said Shorewood Village Mayor Clarence “CC” DeBold. “The YMCA is a well-respected organization with a strong family focus and a long history of serving the residents of Will County, making it a great partner for the Village of Shorewood. This will be a wonderful amenity for our residents and the community,” added DeBold.

As one of the nation’s leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, the Y is committed to strengthening our community through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. For more than 95 years, the YMCA has provided much-needed programs and services for children, adults, and families living in Will and Grundy Counties. At its three facilities in Joliet, Plainfield, and Morris, and at more than 50 program sites located throughout our community, the Y serves residents of all ages through its before and after school, summer camp, aquatics, youth and adult sports, and health and wellness programs. Through its financial assistance and scholarship program, the YMCA works to ensure that its programs are available to everyone and no one is turned away due to the inability to pay. In 2023, the Y provided more than $900,000 in financial assistance for children, adults, and families living in our community.

Construction of the new YMCA facility in Shorewood is expected to begin later this year. While the new YMCA facility is under construction, the Galowich Family YMCA, which is located just four miles east of where the new facility will be built, will remain open to serve YMCA members and the community. When the new YMCA opens in Shorewood, the Galowich Family YMCA will be retired and the facility and land will be sold.

“To meet the needs of the greater Joliet community and to ensure the long-term sustainability of our YMCA, we must continue to provide our members and the community with innovative and state-of-the-art facilities,” said Leclair. “Although we are sad to be retiring the Galowich Family YMCA building, we are excited to write the next chapter of the Y’s storied history in our community as we continue to provide much-needed youth development programs at more than 50 community-based sites throughout the greater Joliet area,” added Leclair.