McCormick YMCA Opens In Logan Square

CHICAGO, IL — The McCormick YMCA Aquatic Center has officially opened its doors in the city's Logan Square neighborhood. The 13,000-square-foot facility includes two indoor pools, two multipurpose rooms and a family locker room. Families will be able to take their kids to the new YMCA for swim lessons year-round.

“We expect to provide over 1,200 swim lessons in the next year, and beyond that, we’re also excited that there will be dozens of jobs provided to this community,” said Denise Lam, executive VP and COO of YMCA of Metro Chicago in a statement.

As part of the YMCA of Metro Chicago's commitment to water safety, the Y offered 30,000 swim lessons across the Chicago area last year, and more than 1,000 lessons were provided at little to no cost to the family, the Y said.

According to the USA Swimming Foundation, 64 percent of African-American, 45 percent of Hispanic/Latino and 40 percent of Caucasian children have little to no swimming ability, putting them at risk for drowning. Children who swim with their family are 2.7 times more likely to be good swimmers, the foundation said.

In a statement, Dick Malone, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Chicago, said the McCormick Foundation “wholeheartedly embraced the concept of having a safe haven in a community that has been underserved for decades — so families can build the needed life skills for a better future.”

The new facility is offering tours of the Aquatic Center for members and the general public. Open swim hours are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Saturdays from noon to 6:30 p.m.

Images via McCormick YMCA.