The new Y will be an adaptive reuse of part of the historic Cardinal Gibbons High School; serving as community anchor in southwest Baltimore
At a kick-off event on Monday, July 30th at the new arena at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), the Y in Central Maryland unveiled preliminary plans for a new Y in southwest Baltimore, on the site of the former Cardinal Gibbons High School. Civic and community leaders, UMBC men’s basketball coach Ryan Odom and John Feinstein, best-selling sports author and writer, joined the Y to introduce plans for the proposed new center as part of the Y’s $16 million Invest in Baltimore’s Future: Mission Expansion capital campaign. Redoubling its already expansive commitment and investment in Baltimore’s families and communities, in addition to the proposed new Y at Gibbons Commons the capital campaign also includes upgrades to the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Y in Waverly and the Y in Druid Hill, as well as expansion of youth development programs at and around all three new or redeveloped centers.
Once the $6 million required to build the new facility is raised, the Y will complete an adaptive reuse of the former Cardinal Gibbons High School gymnasium and Fine Arts Building as a centerpiece of Saint Agnes Hospital’s 32-acre Gibbons Commons mixed-use development. The state-of-the-art family center Y, which would be the third Y family center in Baltimore City, would serve as a community space and include a wellness center, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, group exercise studios, gymnasium, locker rooms, youth development and multipurpose spaces, stay and play and more.
The Y’s President & CEO John Hoey said, “Influencing the next generation and strengthening families and communities is what the Y is all about, and it's why I'm so passionate about our Invest in Baltimore's Future: Mission Expansion Campaign. We know that ‘as Baltimore goes, so goes the region.’ That’s one of many important reasons we’re so focused on this campaign, including the redevelopment of the former Cardinal Gibbons High School into a Y. As much as any other community institution, the Y is extraordinarily well-poised to catalyze thriving community life, triggering generational change.”
A large portion of the Gibbons Commons property is dedicated to recreational and green space. The Y currently manages and operates youth and sports programs on the Babe Ruth Field, a turf field constructed by a partnership between Saint Agnes and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. This is the second Ripken Foundation field managed by the Y, the other one being at the Weinberg Y in Waverly (the site of the former Memorial Stadium).
More information on the Invest in Baltimore’s Future Mission Expansion campaign can be found at https://ymaryland.org/
Our Mission:
The Y is a charitable organization in Central Maryland dedicated to developing the full potential of every individual through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
Our Commitment:
At the Y, we are committed to providing family-oriented, affordable, high quality programs.
A cause driven organization with three areas of vital focus:
- For Youth Development: nurturing the potential of every child and teen
- For Healthy Living: improving our community’s health & well-being
- For Social Responsibility: giving back and providing support for our neighbors
The Y is a place for everyone. People of all races, ages, faiths, gender, abilities, backgrounds and incomes are welcome and financial assistance on a sliding scale is available to those who would otherwise be unable to participate.
Our Values:
Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility
More information can be found at www.ymaryland.org.
