A long-discussed vision for a community center in Elmont is inching closer to reality, as local officials and community leaders begin planning for a new YMCA facility that supporters contend could become a major hub for recreation, youth programming and community services in the area.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced plans for the Elmont community center project in April as part of the Belmont Park redevelopment plan, which originally called for a 10,000-square-foot facility on the racetrack campus. She is putting $2.5 million in state capital funding into the project, which is administered through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York.
Following community feedback, Empire State Development, New York’s economic development agency, approved an off-site location in Elmont instead for the community center. The YMCA of Long Island has since signed a contract to purchase the property on 570 Elmont Road and plans to demolish an existing vacant structure to build a roughly 18,000-square-foot community center.
The project recently received approval for land acquisition, supported by a $2.5 million capital grant administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York.
Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, who represents New York’s 22nd Assembly District, said the YMCA project has remained one of her top priorities for years, driven by what she described as a longstanding need for a dedicated community gathering space in south Elmont.
She said she worked closely with the UBSA Arena and the Islanders to help identity a location that they thought would have a real impact on the community.
The planned facility would be built near Elmont Memorial High School, which, Solages said, is particularly important because south Elmont currently lacks a centralized public community space outside of school property.
Solages explained that the community desperately needs a central place for residents to gather, noting that north Elmont residents use Elmont Memorial Library as a shared public space outside of schools, but south Elmont lacks a similar community hub.
The assemblywoman told the Herald that the YMCA could eventually offer a wide range of services depending on community input, including childcare, youth programming, senior services, business opportunities and recreational activities.
“There are different dynamics and different YMCAs,” she said. “There's one YMCA that has childcare center, there's other YMCA that has business incubators, there's another YMCA that has senior services and programs. And so, we want to hear from the community.”
She emphasized that organizers want residents to help shape the project before plans are finalized.
The facility is expected to provide space for local organizations and community groups that currently do not have permanent homes.
“This would give them somewhere to go,” Solages said. “This is like a place where people can convene, and it's going to be a great space for Elmont to just deepen its roots.”
She added that the center could help strengthen Elmont’s identity as a multicultural and multireligious community.
Community members already have begun to express support for the project.
Susan Saint-Joy, an Elmont resident and a library trustee candidate, said the facility represents an important investment in the future of the community.
“As a young mother raising children in this community, I see this as an incredible investment in our future,” she said. “Our children and teenagers, especially our high school students, will now have access to additional programs, activities, and safe spaces designed to encourage growth, wellness, leadership, and community engagement.”
Saint-Joy added that YMCA’s experience operating community programs makes the organization a strong fit for Elmont.
Saint-Joy said she is encouraged by YMCA’s strong background in running community centers and youth programs, noting that such experience is key to building a successful community hub. She explained that effective operation requires solid leadership, organization, and the ability to serve families across all age groups.
Bryanna Copeland, another Elmont resident, said she hopes accessibility and inclusion remain central to the project as plans move forward.
“As someone who uses a wheelchair and is raising a young child in this community, I’m hopeful this space will be built with accessibility and inclusion in mind from the beginning,” Copeland said.
Copeland said she hopes the facility will prioritize both physical access such as ramps, elevators, bathrooms, and family-friendly spaces, as well as greater inclusion for individuals with mental and developmental disabilities. She added that accessibility often isn’t fully considered, which can unintentionally leave some community members feeling excluded.
Copeland said inclusive spaces are especially important for families and children.
“A YMCA has the potential to become a true community hub, and I think it’s important that families of all abilities feel welcomed and represented there,” she said.
Solages said the project still faces several logistical steps, including demolition of the current structure on the property and development of a formal construction timeline. Still, she described the acquisition of the site as a major milestone.
She also credited Hochul for helping move the project forward.
“The governor really believes in Elmont, and she wants the best for Elmont,” Solages said. “The kids of Elmont and the seniors of Elmont, the families of Elmont, really deserve a center that they can be proud of.”
