Skyview Memorial Park

Inside the east gymnasium, more than 130 supporters listened as campaign leaders, supporters and YMCA officials discussed the needs and opportunities for the future that the expansion will make possible.Appropriately, there were dozens of children who sat in places of honor as they and future generations will be among those who benefit the most.Outdoors, campaign leaders and others turned dirt with gold-colored shovels as heavy equipment operated nearby.Doug Burkink, president of the YMCA board of directors, took time to thank all the previous generations who have made momentous contributions to Norfolk.“When you think about it, somebody developed Skyview Lake. Somebody developed Memorial Park. Somebody developed the soccer complex,” Burkink said.With the YMCA team of leaders and board of directors, it was time for this group and generation to do its part, he said.Randy Hagedorn, executive director of the YMCA, expressed appreciation to all those made donations and contributed in a variety of ways.“How about this day?” Hagedorn asked an enthusiastic group of well-wishers as they applauded. “It is so exciting. We are pumped for this. What a great crowd.”To raise $11 million has been incredible, Hagedorn said, and serves as a testament to the campaign leaders and how people feel about the YMCA.There still is a small amount of money to raise, but the finish line is within reach, Hagedorn said.The new addition, which will be two levels, will be 106,000 square feet, more than doubling the current size of 75,000 square feet. When finished — sometime in the first three months of 2019 — the YMCA will be a total of 181,000 square feet.The architects are Clark Enersen Partners from Lincoln, There are four local companies that will complete the work and supply materials, with Beckenhauer Construction of Norfolk as the general contractor.Hagedorn said along with helping to meet physical and fitness needs, the YMCA needs room to expand for programs, such as a rock steady boxing class. That class, for example, has proven to help patien... (Norfolk Daily News)