History of the Shady Grove Family YMCA

The first meeting to explore creating a Y in the Glen Allen, Short Pump, Innsbrook and Wyndham areas occurred in April 1989.  The idea gained momentum and additional support in 1990 when Innsbrook developers suggested to the YMCA that a branch be built in that office park.  Enthusiasm and planning continued for several years.  During this time, Shady Grove held its first youth program, summer camp at Short Pump Middle School, during 1993.

The next year, the branch received a charter from YMCA of the USA.  It was now the eighth branch in the YMCA of Greater Richmond.  Initially, the branch operated as an extension of the Tuckahoe Family YMCA.  A temporary facility opened in the Shoppes in Innsbrook (now called "Innsbrook Shoppes") during September 1994.  Although without a home, the Shady Grove Family YMCA quickly supplied a full range of family-oriented programs.  These included Y-Indian Guides and Princess programs (now Adventure Guides), enrichment classes for middle and elementary school children, after-school child care, adult aerobics and pre-school parenting classes.

Shady Grove officials formally signed a contract for a site on Nuckols Road in February 1994.  The county planning commission approved the $3 million construction plans in mid-1996.  A groundbreaking ceremony took place during spring 1997 and construction began that summer.  When completed in 1998, the facility had an indoor pool, wellness center, meeting rooms, locker rooms and offices.

In 1999, Shady Grove dedicated a playground at Nuckols Road.  During the next 2 years, it opened a 7,200-square-foot fitness addition and a 5,400-square-foot youth addition and camp pavilion.  The branch broke ground for yet another expansion in 2003. Completed in 2004, this expansion doubled the existing building's size and provide it with the Tom Poole Teen Center, a two-court basketball gym with suspend running track, youth classrooms, music rooms, and a wellness center expansion.

In 2015 more renovations were completed that included a second pool with two water slides and a splash pad, renovated Wellness Center and Family Locker Rooms, bringing the total size to nearly 70,000-square-feet.

The text was taken from the book "The Richmond YMCA: 150 Years of Innovation and Service for Central Virginia" by Edward R. Crews.