YMCA Early Learning Center making progress

FINDLAY — The new Early Learning Center being constructed on the downtown Findlay YMCA campus is "on schedule" and "under budget," said Stephanie Parsons, Findlay YMCA CEO this week. The new building is almost complete, on the corner of Hardin Street and Grand Avenue. It will replace the YMCA's 50-year-old Mary Brenner Child Development Center, which will be sold, Parsons said. The CDC currently serves approximately 200 children, infants through 5th-grade. Designed with the help of occupational therapists and certified occupational therapy assistants for the purpose of serving all children no matter their abilities, the new building, slated to open later this fall, is 20,500 square-feet in size and will open an additional 120 spots for childcare. A November 2023 report from the Hancock County Childcare Task Force estimates there are approximately 2,000 Hancock County children still in need of childcare. Parsons said the YMCA and the community felt constrained by the limitations presented by the CDC, as it is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, the CDC is a three-story building across the street from the main building of the downtown YMCA branch. Walking between buildings can be dangerous for families in such a busy area. "I just sort of hold on tight and watch them go," said Kari Redman, Child Development District Director. While each age group has its own floor, not being ADA-accessible presents challenges for some children. Because of state licensing requirements, each age group has to stay on its assigned floor with no options for flexibility. The ELC aims to address these limitations. "There's a huge community need for childcare and we identified that pretty early on," Parsons said. "We knew this increasing need was going to be impacting our community so we fast-tracked our plans." Estimated to cost $10 million, the ELC will be one floor and will include three infant rooms, four toddler rooms, five Pre-k rooms, one school-aged room, a gross motor skills room, a sensory needs room, a room for nursing mothers, a teacher break room and a secure lobby. The building will also offer needed storage space for both strollers and infant car seats. A future phase of the capital campaign will add a Center for Excellence that will offer professional development for adults who need extra skills to help them enter or remain in the workforce. Unlike the CDC, each room in the new ELC will have the ability to be transitioned and used for a different age-group when necessary. According to Redman, the age group with the current highest need for care is the infants and toddlers. "We were locked in (at the old building) because of state licensing requirements," Parsons said. "There are policies and procedures," so being able to convert classrooms by need "is a blessing — we can evolve when needed." A new playground with inclusive equipment for kids with both physical and developmental disabilities is also a new highlight. The playground will include an adaptable swing, a tunnel space that will fit wheelchairs and a communication board for nonverbal children to point to their needs. Another limitation, Redman said, is the cost of childcare. While the YMCA is one of only several locations in the area that offer care for children subsidized by the state for families that meet an income-based need, Redman would like to see that threshold increased in the future. "The goal is to be able to serve all kids," Redman said. "We have big dreams for the future. Passion is coming to fruition, a dream is actually taking place. It's actually happening. It's very exciting." Future phases of the YMCA's ongoing capital campaign will include connecting the YMCA main building to the ELC and an expansion of the East Branch. Engleman House While some residents have been waiting to hear news about the historic Engleman property currently owned by the Findlay YMCA, Parsons said there is no new news on that front yet. She said it is being maintained, but the YMCA is waiting to finish current projects before sharing a plan for the property. "It's our property. We can do what we want and it's standing. We obviously care about the history, or it would be demolished by now," she said. "We will be in a much better spot to answer that question in four-to-six months."