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City Takes Over Former Y Site

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By RAY REYES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

PLANT CITY - An old recreation center on East Young Street has been taken over by the city now that the former tenant, the Plant City Family YMCA, let its lease expire Dec. 31.

Plans call for razing a structure that houses aged showers and locker rooms but keeping the main building intact, City Manager David Sollenberger said. Pool equipment, used when the site hosted swimming clubs and activities, will also be demolished, Sollenberger said. The swimming pool was filled in a few years ago.

"It's a wonderful building," Sollenberger said of the property on 502 E. Young St. "But the showers and locker rooms are run-down."
Sollenberger said he will authorize the demolition work soon, which will cost the city about $10,000.

Officials with the city's recreation and parks department have plans to offer summer recreation programs at the site, Sollenberger said. City-sponsored after-school programs offered at the Planteen and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. recreation centers will be expanded and also held at the East Young Street building, Sollenberger said.

A local Head Start chapter has expressed interest in the building and members of community theater group Plant City Entertainment may use the facility for rehearsals and performances, Sollenberger wrote in his twice-monthly report to commissioners.

The YMCA used the facility for years for children and teens. YMCA officials have since relocated the activities to their main building at 1507 YMCA Place.

Recreation and parks Director Jack Holland is in talks with the Plant City Garden Club to move a butterfly garden from the East Young Street site to the YMCA headquarters off Alexander Street, Sollenberger said.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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