The YMCA of Dane County officially broke ground on a new $58 million facility in Fitchburg Tuesday, as it looks to enhance access to child care, health care, fitness, youth programs and senior services in Dane County.
(Photo by A. David Dahmer)
The 97,200-square-foot facility will sit on seven acres at McKee Road and Spoke Drive, replacing the current West YMCA, built in 1968. “In June, we announced the largest community investment in the history of the YMCA in this area. It’s a $58 million project to build the new West YMCA right here in Fitchburg,” said Mark Westover, president and CEO of the YMCA of Dane County, at the groundbreaking ceremony. “Today, we start digging.”
Westover noted that the YMCA has been part of Dane County for 140 years, and that “we have stayed relevant by paying attention to what our neighbors need and addressing those needs.”
“On the West Side, the needs come down to child care that working families can find and afford, a place where children learn to be safe in the water, health care that meets people where they’re at, and somewhere for neighbors to simply come together,” he said.
The new facility will include two swimming pools, two gymnasiums, fitness studios, a walking track, a teaching kitchen, a community gathering space and a child care center serving more than 100 children.
(Photo by A. David Dahmer)
It will also house a 10,000-square-foot clinic operated by Access Community Health Centers, creating a partnership that brings medical care and wellness programming together in one location.
“The partnership between Access and the YMCA allows us to do more for our community in a challenging time by bringing health care services, wellness, fitness and child care together under one roof,” said Dr. Ken Loving, CEO of Access Community Health Centers.
The new clinic is expected to serve an additional 5,000 patients, Loving added, including residents of Madison’s Meadowood and Allied Drive neighborhoods and the growing city of Fitchburg.
Loving said an estimated 20,000 Dane County residents lack health insurance and face barriers to accessing primary care. Access currently serves more than 37,000 patients, primarily low-income individuals and families.
“Imagine for a moment what it would feel like if you couldn’t get the care that you need, if you couldn’t afford a medication that could control your diabetes, or you couldn’t access preventive care, like a mammogram or colon cancer screening, or the physical therapy treatments that would allow you to return to work,” Loving said. “For over 40 years, Access has helped people overcome these barriers to care.
“We want to serve more people, and growth has been a constant priority over the years at Access. We’re excited to continue this tradition with the YMCA,” Loving added. “They share our commitment to make services accessible and affordable for all people who will use the facility.”
Access has grown over the past 40 years, said Betty Banks, a longtime Madison community leader, Access volunteer and former board president, yet demand continues to outpace what clinics can provide. “This project is changing that. We are not only building a new clinic or a new Y today, we are also building hope for the thousands of people who will find a place of comfort and healing within these walls,” she said.
Fitchburg Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta said, “What is being built here is one of the most meaningful investments in Fitchburg’s future that I have seen. This is not just a building; it’s a statement about who we are and what we believe our neighbors deserve.”
The project will address another pressing need in the area: affordable child care. Arata-Fratta said the shortage can force working parents to make difficult choices while searching for quality, affordable options.
“This facility changed that. A dedicated childcare center will be a lifeline for many families here in our community. The partnership with Access Community Health Centers is just as important,” she said. “When a first-rate fitness and wellness facility like the Y is paired with a trusted community health partner [like Access], the result is more powerful than either could offer alone. Families will not simply exercise here; they will grow healthier and they will grow more connected.”
(Photo by A. David Dahmer)
Maggie Pascali, executive director of the Sub-Zero Group Foundation, said the project’s impact extends beyond the building itself. “This new YMCA will be located in an area identified as a childcare desert, helping meet a critical need for working families. It will create opportunities for children to learn, grow and thrive through early childhood education, after-school programming and summer camps,” Pascali said. “It will also support lifelong health, giving people of all ages access to wellness programs, recreation, education and community connection that improves quality of life.”
The project has raised more than $31.2 million over the past two years through the YMCA’s Community Building Community Campaign. Lead contributions included $15 million from the Sub-Zero Group Foundation, $10 million from the late philanthropist Jerry Frautschi in one of his final gifts to the community, and $3 million from Julie and Jay Van Cleave.
Westover thanked the donors and community partners who helped bring the project to fruition, emphasizing that its lasting impact will be measured by the people it serves.
“This is community building community,” Westover said.
Construction is expected to continue through 2027, with the facility scheduled to open in early 2028.
