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YMCA opens Tri-Lakes building

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Contributed by: Jeff Thomas on 4/20/2008

At the groundbreaking in April 2007, everyone huddled together against a hard-driving snow as the ceremonial shovel was hammered into the frozen ground.

At the formal opening of the Tri-Lakes Family Center YMCA on Saturday, the sun shone through light breezes -- and everyone gathered inside the new gymnasium.

"I've been thinking about this moment for about five years," said Andy Barton, branch director of the YMCA building that has been planned since 1995 and under construction for the past year.

The 12-acre site is the largest in the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, said association President and CEO Merv Bennett. The land, directly across the road from Lewis-Palmer High School, was a gift of Jackson Creek Land Co.

"Most of the time, when someone says 'We'll give you land,' it's land that isn't very saleable, or it has Preble's mice," Bennett told the audience, referring to the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse, a protected species.

But in this case, Bennett said, Jackson Creek official Tim Phelan gave Bennett a map and a pen.

"He said, 'How many acres do you want?' I said 'twelve acres.' He said 'you draw a circle around 12 acres.' That's why we're next to the high school. That's a real gift."

A group of Tri-Lakes-area children cut the ceremonial ribbon at 11:29 a.m. The crowd then toured the building for about an hour, when it was emptied so that the doors could be opened to Y members.

Disclosure: Jeff Thomas is a member of the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region metro board of directors.

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Jeff Thomas

Colorado Springs , CO

Jeff Thomas has posted 5 stories and 1 comment since joining on 8/14/2006. Jeff Thomas 's average story rating is 4.

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