The Knox County YMCA officially opened its new indoor playground, youth center and outdoor wellness spaces Tuesday, drawing a packed house of city officials, elected officials, business leaders, Y members and the public.
Kids were already climbing and sliding on the new indoor playground equipment as speakers took turns at the podium during the ceremony at the YMCA’s Family Branch.
Adam Sampson, CEO of the Knox County YMCA, said the turnout reflected something bigger than the ribbon-cutting itself.
“I don’t think our community sometimes knows how supportive, how great it is to just live in Galesburg, Illinois,” Sampson said. “How this community came together and made this happen is just a great example.”
Sampson said the crowd included people from across the community, which he said reflects the YMCA’s mission.
“At the Y, you might be the richest, you might be the poorest — nobody knows,” Sampson said. “There’s no designation on how much you pay, or your ability to pay, or who you are. You’re at the Y. We’re all equal here, and it’s a great place for people to engage and be around others.”
What’s new at the Y
Sampson said the new indoor playground gives families a place to play regardless of the weather.
“You can imagine that grandma in January can bring her grandkids in and play anytime she wants,” Sampson said.
The new youth center will be used for after-school care, mentoring programs, and meals for students from the junior high school. Outdoors, the YMCA added more playground space, a workout area, and a walking track.
“Whatever it is to engage the family, get the family active and off, not watching TV or on social media or things like that, just engaged in life,” Sampson said.
‘It is absolutely the people’
Sampson, who said he has worked at YMCAs across the country, called this branch one of the best he’s seen.
“It is absolutely the people,” Sampson said. “When you walk in the front desk here, everyone says hello. They look you in the eye. The members all engage each other. We want to be the best at wellness, we want to be the best at taking care of kids and all that kind of stuff, but really, it’s the people that make it happen. We’re blessed in this community to have a lot of people like that.”
