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POLK COUNTY––Last February, the Polk County YMCA Committee asked residents of Polk County and the surrounding area to participate in a survey to gauge the community’s interest in building a YMCA facility in the county.
The survey asked whether residents would be interested in an indoor pool, a group fitness center, in childcare, or other types of options at a new facility in the county.
In a recent email update from the YMCA, the survey results show that 84% of Polk County residents are interested in an indoor pool at the proposed YMCA facility.The indoor pool activity that most residents were interested in was family swimming, followed by water aerobics and lap swimming.
According to survey results, 78% of residents wanted a fitness center with cardio. Just below that, the survey showed that 72% desired an indoor walking and running track.
More residents were interested in options for yoga at a new YMCA facility, over cycling, Zumba, aerobics, and strength training. 

Currently, the Polk County YMCA Committee has chosen three potential locations to build the facility, and a subcommittee is working to determine which is most practical in terms of cost and accessibility.
Rick Callebs, CEO, wrote in the email update, “The next steps will include engaging an architect to create conceptual drawings. The subcommittee will then create an initial project budget and funding plan. Funding for the project will be provided from a variety of sources, including donations from individuals, grants from foundations and government funds.”
He also wrote, “The Y has also hired additional staff and reserved $500,000 for new equipment in the new facility.”
The Polk County YMCA Committee told the Tryon Daily Bulletin during the winter that the facility should open within a few years.