New Plover YMCA opens its doors to the community
By Alex Wong
PLOVER — The Stevens Point Area YMCA officially opened its new Plover location Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local officials, community partners, staff and residents.
The facility, located inside the former Younkers building at Plover Marketplace, 1780 Plover Road, gives the YMCA a second location in Portage County and expands access to its programs and services.
“This has been in the works for a long time for the Stevens Point Y,” YMCA President and CEO Ryan Zietlow said. “We know that the Plover region is extremely important for the county, and it’s extremely important for the Y and our ability to make a true difference and an impact for those that are around us.”
“This is just another opportunity for us to reach out and connect with people right here where they live,” Zietlow said.
The ceremony drew ambassadors from the Portage County Business Council, members of the Stevens Point Area YMCA Board of Directors, YMCA staff, representatives from the Heart of Wisconsin Pickleball Association, local business owners and other community partners.
Zietlow thanked YMCA staff, the board of directors and community partners for helping bring the project to completion.
“It was truly an all-around effort,” he said.
He singled out the Heart of Wisconsin Pickleball Association as a key partner in the project.
“We wouldn’t be able to get to this point today, and we wouldn’t be able to see the success we’re going to have in the near future if it was not for the Heart of Wisconsin Pickleball Association,” he said.
“The Y doesn’t accomplish things on their own,” Zietlow said. “We have partners and we have friends and we have connections to make a huge difference in the lives of people. And it’s because of all of you that things like this are possible.”
Following the ceremony, staff and board members joined local officials for the ceremonial ribbon cutting before opening the facility to the public.
The approximately 14,000-square-foot facility includes four dedicated indoor pickleball courts, a wellness center, an indoor walking track and a turf training area.
“I love the Plover Y because it’s going to bring a new opportunity for connection down here in Plover,” Zietlow said. “We know that Plover is a growing municipality, so for us to be closer to where people live and people work and people play is tremendous for us.”
The YMCA plans to host additional open houses and community events in the coming weeks as it welcomes residents into the new facility.