A new project is coming to downtown Davenport. The YMCA is planning a new location that includes an expanded child development center. The new YMCA will go on 4th street, between River Drive and Iowa Street.
Children in the YMCA's childcare and pre-school program love to play. At a new, downtown YMCA, they'll have more room to ride bikes, climb rock walls and play ball.
"We want to improve the downtown Y," says Scott Crane, United Way of the QCA President, "They have a very good program, but they needed a better facility."
A larger child development center will be funded by the Women's Leadership Council of the United Way.
"The council was looking at what they could do to make a difference in early childhood education in our community," adds Crane, "They really looked at taking a very strong daycare program and pre-school program and figured out how to make them better."
Moving the YMCA from its current location means a modernized facility will be built.
"This building was built in 1963 and it has some age in it," says Scott County Family YMCA CEO Brad Martell, "The board was looking to the future
The area where a new downtown YMCA will go is currently an industrial area. It is within walking distance to several downtown apartment buildings.
"With the growth of residential downtown and more apartments coming, something like the Y fits perfectly with what we want to see happening down here," says Kyle Carter, Director of the Downtown Davenport Partnership.
The new, downtown YMCA will have a gym and everything the current YMCA has. However, it's the new child development center that will benefit by becoming a stronger program.
"It serves a huge need in our community," says Crane, "A lot of working families may not be able to afford a full priced childcare facility, but they still need good quality pre-school and child care."
The YMCA's new child development center will cost $2.5-million and 60% has been raised so far. The YMCA is working on figuring out the cost of the rest of the project.
