Lincoln County and Gateway Region YMCA Announce Partnership to Launch Youth Programming
Leaders from across Lincoln County and the Gateway Region YMCA are partnering to launch Y programs in the area while also exploring the possibility of opening a new YMCA facility.
In 2025, Lincoln County 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 facility 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 traditional Y.
In March 2025, the Steering Committee distributed a 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. It showed the most pressing needs around youth programming, including child care, day camp, and before and after school care. Click here to view the full report.
As a result of the assessment, the Gateway Region Y will begin offering day camp at two sites in collaboration with both the Troy and Winfield School Districts in summer 2026. Before and after school care will be available in fall 2026 in collaboration with the Winfield School District.
View Summer Camps at the Lincoln County YMCA
“As local leaders continue to identify how to build a stronger, healthier Lincoln County, there is no better partner in this effort than the YMCA,” stated Kelly Hardcastle, Executive Director of the Lincoln County Council on Aging and Co-Chair of the Lincoln County YMCA Steering Committee. “Having Y programs and services available will greatly elevate the quality of life for individuals and families in Lincoln County, and we are so excited to continue working together to bring a Y facility to our region in the coming years.”
There is no exact timetable yet on when a new Y will be completed. Building a new Y will require the Steering Committee to more fully assess community needs, planning and development, site selection and fundraising.
“Strengthening community is core to the Y’s mission, and we are grateful for the opportunity to work with Lincoln County officials to bring a Y to this region,” said Tim Helm, President and CEO, Gateway Region YMCA. “We are excited to begin offering child care services, and longer-term, to offer health and wellness services for youth, families and seniors, with the goal of eventually building a Y branch.”
More information on the partnership and how to register is available on the Lincoln County YMCA page.
Get Involved or Learn More
Launching a new Y requires involvement, partnerships and collaboration across the community. Individuals interested in providing input and support, or just learning more about the process can contact Ken Strawbridge at the Y:
About the Gateway Region YMCA
The Gateway Region YMCA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
The association features 25 traditional branches in Missouri and Illinois, along with the Campus Y student leadership facility at Washington University and YMCA Camp Lakewood and Trout Lodge in Potosi, MO.
The Y also manages several specialized public-private partnerships: the Carondelet Park and O'Fallon Park Rec Complexes are owned by the City of St. Louis and operated by the Y; the RiverChase YMCA is owned by the city of Fenton and operated by the Y; and the Ste. Genevieve County YMCA is owned by the City of Ste. Genevieve and operated by the Y. Committed to serving people of all abilities, the Y offers financial assistance to ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate, regardless of their ability to pay. The Gateway Region YMCA is a proud member of the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
For more information, please visit gwrymca.org or call 314-436-1177.