The YMCA of the Inland Northwest will open its first North Idaho facility in Sandpoint on Saturday. The Y is buying the building now owned by Sandpoint West Athletic Club.
John Ehrbar is the chief operating officer for YMCA of the Inland Northwest. He says groups of Sandpoint residents have been asking the Y to open a recreational facility in Bonner County for several years.
“There have been groups who have wanted indoor ice rinks. There’ve been groups that wanted indoor practice facilities. And then the other groups have just looking for family-oriented indoor activities where everyone from the community could come in, regardless of income, and that’s where I think the YMCA came into the mix because that’s what we do,” Ehrbar said.
Ehrbar says the Y plans to reach out to the athletic club’s members. Eventually it hopes to launch a membership drive.
“People know us, know the YMCA, for fitness. This will give us an opportunity to show, right off the bat, even though we’re going into what was known as a fitness facility, we also focus on youth development and we also focus on giving back to the community. That’s really where we’re hoping to make a big difference right away,” he said.
The Sandpoint site will be the local YMCA’s fifth. The other four are in Spokane, including Camp Reed.