Eastbayri.com

BARRINGTON — On Nov. 11, 1963 a dream to open a self-sustaining YMCA in Barrington was brought to reality and on Nov. 10, 2011 a groundbreaking will take place to begin construction on a new phase of the Bayside YMCA, specifically the addition of a state-of-the-art pool.

Joe Martino, executive director of the Bayside YMCA, has announced that the fund-raising efforts for the first phase of renovations at the West Street site are moving forward with a call to the local community for support of the project.

“The Bayside Y Capital Campaign is at a critical phase. Our dedicated volunteers have raised $5.2 million toward our $6.4 million dollar goal. With our groundbreaking scheduled for November 10th, we are in the final stages of fund-raising with a community gifts campaign ...” Mr. Martino said.

“We really have come full circle. More than 50 years ago, a dedicated group of people had a vision for a YMCA and in the past years a new group of dedicated people have a vision for a facility that can meet the needs of the community. We have outgrown our building and this is an exciting opportunity for the community as we move to expand our wellness programs.”

The Bayside YMCA serves Barrington, Bristol, Warren and Riverside.

The Bayside YMCA provides more than $125,000 in free programs and scholarships to more than 300 individuals and families.

A history lesson

In 1949, the first official YMCA group, led by the late David Pepperell, began and encompassed Barrington and East Providence. With the support of town officials at the municipal and school levels, programs for youngsters were implemented and gradually grew to the point where it was decided that Barrington needed its own YMCA.

In 1958, a group of 12 men and women formed a management team to bring the Y to town. In 1959, space was rented on County Road and the Barrington YMCA was born. As time passed it became apparent that a larger facility was needed.

The Barrington YMCA, as it was called, was built for $460,000. In 1967, the outdoor pool and gymnasium were added at a cost of about $400,000.

From a 1963 Barrington Times story, details of the formation of the Y reads, “The need for supervised activities for youngsters, both boys and girls, in this town was evident and the desires of the Barrington Branch YMCA to help fulfill these requirements by raising funds to erect a building including necessary facilities and particularly a swimming pool was recognized.”

A message, also in the Times from November 1963, written by Barrington Town Council President W. K. Priestley in 1963 stated: “The fact that we now have this new facility is a tribute to many, many of our townspeople and congratulations are in order to each and every person who in any way contributed his effort and financial support. Speaking for the town council, I would like to say that Barrington will now be a better place in which to live due to the influence which this new building will exert on our citizens of all ages, but particularly to our young people.”

Long time Barrington resident Sandy McCulloch was a part of the original group to bring a YMCA to the people of Barrington and continues to be supportive of the ongoing fundraising efforts to update the facility.

“We saw the need to update the facility and expand the good work that takes place at the YMCA. The programming for people of all ages is a need that is apparent and will continue into the future,” Mr. McCulloch said.

A glance at the offerings

The YMCA facility is made available for meetings and events to a wide range of groups and organizations including the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the Bay Team, assisting them with a dependable, safe place to meet.

Other programming at the YMCA includes the well-being of children in and around the water all summer long, and the Y conducted water safety lessons in the schools reaching every second grade class in Barrington over the past 2 years.

Also in schools, the YMCA worked with teachers in Barrington to engage children in physical activity throughout the day by training them in how to conduct exercise breaks in the classroom.

Cancer survivors are given the opportunity to rebuild their strength and stability after treatment as well as connect with a supportive network of caring friends through the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program, offered free of charge to residents of the community.

Meeting a community need for organized sports, the Y provides a home for the Barrington High School swim team and also supports students with special needs by offering a targeted aquatics program for students living with a disability.

The YMCA provides leadership in preventative health with initiatives such as the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program.

Sally E. Lapides, President/CEO at Residential Properties LTD. has fond memories of “growing up” at the Y and remains supportive of the capital campaign.

“I was a CIT (Counselor in Training) at the Barrington Y summer camp in 1963 and 1964. I loved my early counselor training. I was a marble champ and the kids loved to play with me. I also loved doing arts and crafts with the kids and have continued doing art projects throughout my adult life. Prior to that I used to go to the YMCA with my dad to swim in the new indoor pool twice a week and the big treat once a month was to stop at the Newport Creamery for a banana split after we exercised,” Ms. Lapides said.

How to get involved

Sandy Carney, capital campaign director said there are many ways to get involved in getting the community gifts portion of the campaign off the ground.

“There will be a variety of opportunities for volunteers to get involved in helping us to broaden our message and reach our goal. Individuals can contact me to find out ways they can help,” Ms. Carney said. She can be reached at 419-8572.