First YMCA In Southern Maryland Takes Shape: Community Update Shared

LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — An overview of the new YMCA project coming to St. Mary’s County was presented yesterday at the Lexington Park Library during an event hosted by the Lexington Park Business Association at its End of Year Celebration, highlighting construction progress, community impact, and fundraising needs for the long-anticipated facility.

Speaker Beverly Johnston spoke on behalf of the YMCA committee put together by the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County (CSMC).

The new YMCA, led by the Chesapeake Family YMCA, will be a 64,512-square-foot facility and the first YMCA on the western shore of Southern Maryland. St. Mary’s County is located across from, not on, the Eastern Shore, making the project a significant regional milestone as the first YMCA to serve Southern Maryland.

Plans for the facility include two full-size basketball courts, six indoor pickleball courts, five wellness and exercise rooms, meeting rooms, a teaching kitchen, an aquatic center that will replace the current swimming pool, and an indoor track, where 11 laps equal one mile. The site will also feature a large front parking lot.

The YMCA emphasized that the facility will be open to all members of the community, with a focus on access and inclusivity. Scholarships and low-cost memberships will be available, including options as low as $1 per month for families, with the stated goal that no one will be turned away due to an inability to pay.

Construction on the project is currently underway. The second-floor concrete pour is scheduled for Dec. 22, and work on the day pool and interior spaces is expected to begin in January 2026. Once the facility’s director arrives, a trailer will be placed on-site to support applications and community outreach.

Jennifer Lane has been named the new director and is expected to arrive soon. She will be based locally. The YMCA project is expected to create approximately 10 full-time jobs and between 100 and 125 part-time positions, with staffing events and hiring initiatives planned.

Child care is a key component of the YMCA’s expansion in the county. The organization will take over child care services at the former Lu Hall facility for county employees, with a launch planned for August. There are also potential plans to expand child care services into the former AMC theater space at the Leitersburg Mall property, though details are still being finalized.

Fundraising efforts for the project are currently in the silent phase. Organizers stated that $3 million must be raised in order to open the facility debt-free. Donations made before Dec. 31, 2024, may qualify for tax reductions in 2025, and donors have the option to designate contributions specifically toward scholarship funds to support access and affordability. Visit the donation link at the Lexington Park Business Association to donate.

The project has been in development for seven to eight years and has been driven largely by volunteers. It is described as a transformative investment for St. Mary’s County, with anticipated benefits to community health, youth programming, and overall revitalization. The long-term vision includes serving residents in North County, South County, and across the broader region.

Community members were encouraged to help spread the word, attend upcoming staffing events, contribute financially, and participate in YMCA programs once the facility opens.

When completed, St. Mary’s County will become the first county in Southern Maryland to have both a YMCA facility and YMCA-operated child care, marking a significant milestone in regional community services.

Read more about how and when this project began: Coming Soon: St. Mary’s County Breaks Ground On A New 65,000-Square-Foot YMCA

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