Schenectady County and Duanesburg Central School District Would Collaborate to Reopen the Recreational Facility
The Schenectady County Legislature will consider a resolution to purchase the Duanesburg YMCA, located at 221 Victoria Drive in Delanson, for $1.8 million. Once purchased the property would be donated to the Duanesburg Central School District (DCS) to serve students and the entire Duanesburg community.
If the resolution passes, DCS plans to use the property to provide additional academic, athletic and wellness resources for students, create lifestyle enrichment and continuing education opportunities for older citizens, provide space for workforce development and job retraining for community members, create volunteer and employment opportunities for students, and more.
“Oftentimes rural communities don’t have the same resources suburban and urban spaces do,” said Anthony Jasenski, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature. “Purchasing this property for the Duanesburg Central School District will bring a much-needed recreational facility back to the community. This investment will improve the quality of life for area residents at a fraction of the cost of constructing a new building. We look forward to working with the school district, partner organizations and the entire community to ensure that the property serves the needs of all residents – from students to seniors.”
“When the YMCA closed, it was a tremendous blow to our community,” Duanesburg Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jim Niedermeier said. “We are thrilled that a viable option to re-open has finally presented itself and excited at the opportunities that lie ahead for our community. Besides the obvious benefits to our athletic program at DCS, the center will help us grow our prekindergarten program and add much needed wellness, social and learning opportunities for the Duanesburg community and its surrounding areas,” he added.
“There was a deep concern among residents and our town board members that the Duanesburg YMCA would become a vacant eyesore after it was permanently closed earlier this year,” said Town of Duanesburg Supervisor William Wenzel. “We’re so delighted that Schenectady County has stepped in to help this property remain a community asset that will benefit the entire community as well as the school district.”
The 26,276 square foot Duanesburg YMCA building was originally built in 2009 and is located on 28.61 acres in the Village of Delanson. It currently contains a 25-yard 5-lane lap pool, a large gymnasium with retractable seating for 350 people, a wellness center, an aerobics/spin room space, a large community area space with attached full commercial kitchen, outdoor basketball and pickle ball courts, and an outdoor playground with playground equipment. The Duanesburg YMCA was closed in 2020 due to the pandemic, with the closure becoming permanent earlier this year.