Residents can attend a groundbreaking for the YMCA in Kent from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 21, at Morrill Meadows Park, 10600 SE 248th St.

The new 50,000 square-foot state-of-the art Y facility will be built as part of an expanded Morrill Meadows Park.

“Kent is a city of tremendous potential,” said Nathan Phillips with the YMCA. “There are over 125,000 residents and more than one in four of them are under the age of 18. It has too few places where people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds can come together to be active and healthy, educated, and inspired by one another. The new Y will be one of those places for Kent.”

The groundbreaking will kick off with YMCA of Greater Seattle President Bob Gilbertson and Kent Mayor Dana Ralph to commemorate the new Y, and follow with free activities for all to enjoy, including mini workout sessions, music, light refreshments and snacks and family-friendly games.

The YMCA of Greater Seattle is raising over $27 million to build the facility, with the city contributing about $10 million. The new facility will offer community gathering spaces; an aquatic center with lap lanes and swim areas; gym, group fitness and cardio spaces. The indoor facilities are complimented by outdoor recreation in the expanded Morrill Meadows Park.

The new Y will bring a significant expansion of school, child care and enrichment programs for youth. YMCA anticipates serving 22,000 people per year. Construction is expected to take about 15 months, with a grand opening in the late summer or early fall of 2019.

For more information on the new YMCA Kent Facility, visit seattleymca.org/new-kent-ymca.

For more information about the Morrill Meadows Park expansion, visit kentwa.gov.