OCALA, Fla. (September 15, 2021)
To continue strengthening the Ocala community in spirit, mind, and body, the Frank DeLuca YMCA Family Center is delighted to unveil a new Sportsplex on Wednesday, September 15, making it the Y’s largest outdoor expansion to date.
This innovative new concept fills a community need for a premier outdoor venue where families, kids, and adults of all ages can grow healthier as they enjoy staying active through a variety of fun team sports.
“The new Frank DeLuca YMCA Sportsplex will offer a one-of-a-kind experience in a safe, outdoor setting. It further establishes the Y as the destination for Ocala to come together as a community and grow stronger and healthier together,” said Troy Weaver, Executive Director at Frank DeLuca YMCA. “We are grateful to Frank DeLuca and all of our donors who have so generously invested to help improve the lives of their neighbors through the Y by providing the funds for this expansion.”
The Sportsplex includes a metal airnasium-a covered structure, with multipurpose courts for volleyball and basketball with lighting and fans, four outdoor pickleball courts, and additional soccer fields. In addition to providing more space for pickup and organized sports, the Frank DeLuca Y also intends to use the space for camps and group exercise classes.
Lead donor Frank DeLuca continued to show his long-term commitment to the community through a $1 million donation to the expansion project. “I think all of us owe something, and I think all of us leave some kind of legacy, not just your family, but to the community and the people we worked with and lived with,” said DeLuca. Other notable contributions include YMCA member and donor Andy Pawlowski who donated to build the pickleball courts and in-kind construction support from Dinkins Constructions. The YMCA received donations from several other key donors and members and are extremely grateful for the community's support.
To celebrate the Sportsplex grand opening, new members who join before the end of September will enjoy exclusive added benefits to their membership such as a $50 credit towards programs like Youth Sports or Personal Training.
Future additions to the Sportsplex include a 2,000 sq. ft. youth activity center, outdoor restrooms, and expanded parking. For more information about the new Frank DeLuca YMCA Sportsplex, visit our website.
About the YMCA of Central Florida
Driven by its Christian mission, the YMCA of Central Florida serves as a leading 501c(3) nonprofit committed to strengthening the community. The Y empowers everyone, no matter who they are or where they're from, by ensuring access to resources, relationships, and opportunities for all to learn, grow and thrive. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and generations, the Y's goal is to improve overall health and well-being, ignite youth empowerment and demonstrate the importance of connections in and across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Marion counties. To learn more, visit ymcacf.org and follow on Facebook or Instagram.
