The Gateway Region YMCA is proud to partner with the Lincoln County community.
Starting Summer 2026, we’re bringing trusted youth programs, day camps, and before & after school care to Troy and Winfield. Together, we’re building a foundation for a permanent YMCA facility.
This came about when, in 2025, a group of local leaders, business owners, citizens and other key stakeholders came together to form the Lincoln County YMCA Steering Committee. The goal of this Committee was to explore the possibility of bringing a Y to the region. The Committee approached the Y, and a series of meetings were held to gauge interest and to discuss the possibility of launching programs and services, with a long-term goal of opening a Y facility.
As a next step, in March 2025, the Steering Committee distributed a community needs assessment survey seeking feedback from members of the community to inform programs, services, and a potential Y facility in the future.
The survey responses were overwhelmingly positive and indicated significant excitement in the potential of having a Y presence in Lincoln County, with strong interest in building a Y facility. It showed the most pressing needs around youth programming including child care, day camp, and around having before and after school care.
The Y works to offer services in response to the unique needs of the community where it operates.
As a result of the community assessment, the Gateway Region Y is launching the Lincoln County YMCA which will begin offering two day camp sites in collaboration with both the Troy and Winfield School Districts in summer 2026, and before and after school care in fall 2026 in collaboration with the Winfield School District. Please see the registration information below.
Learn More About Summer Day Camp
Learn More About Y Club: Before & After School Care
Frequently Asked Questions
Discussions first began in early 2025, when a group of local leaders, business owners, citizens and other key stakeholders came together to explore bringing a recreation center to Lincoln County. After further research, they formed the Lincoln County YMCA Steering Committee. The goal of this Committee was to explore the possibility of bringing a Y to the region. The Committee approached the Y, and a series of meetings were held to gauge interest and to discuss the possibility of launching programs and services, with a long-term goal of opening a Y facility.
At this time, the Lincoln County YMCA will offer summer day camp beginning July 2026, and before and after school care in fall 2026.
The Y strives to make a significant impact on the lives of the people and communities we serve. In considering the expansion of services and a potential new branch to serve Lincoln County, Missouri, the Y is committed to understanding the issues and needs facing the County.
There is no exact timetable yet on when a new Y will be completed. Building a new Y will require working with the Lincoln County Steering Committee to fully understand the needs of community, planning and development, site selection and fundraising. We look forward to working with the community to make this goal a reality. The most realistic timetable would be 3-4 years.
A traditional Y facility with a pool, gym, indoor track, group exercise and fitness rooms, and child care spaces, could typically cost between $18 million and $25 million. This can vary based on the amenities included in the facility.
No location has been identified yet. We will continue to work with the Steering Committee and other local leaders to identify potential sites.
Ys are built to reflect the needs of the community. The Steering Committee, donors and future members of the Y will work to decide what to include in any Y facility that is constructed.
Get Involved and Contact Us for More Information
Launching a new Y requires involvement, partnerships and collaborations with the entire community. If you are interested in providing input and support, or just learning more, please contact Ken Strawbridge at ken.strawbridge@gwrymca.org or call 615-406-6668.
Lincoln County YMCA Steering Committee
- Kelly Hardcastle, Lincoln County Council on Aging (Committee Co-Chair)
- Terry Henderson, Retired, Toyota Motor Corp. (Committee Co-Chair)
- Leah Almeling, Toyota Motor Corp.
- Dr. Matthew Fredrickson, Lincoln County R-III School District
- Mindy Kemper, Lincoln County R-III School District
- Julie Rodgers, Lincoln County Economic Development
- Cara Smith, Mercy Hospital Lincoln
- Mary Sullivan-Thomas, Community Opportunities
- Sarah Valenza, Lincoln County Health Department