Rockwall, TX – The J.E.R. Chilton YMCA, a longtime hub for youth development, healthy living and community service, broke ground today on its largest construction effort to date. A $5.2 million expansion will modernize the 50‑year‑old facility, adding a renovated natatorium, a new group‑exercise studio and two paved parking lots to meet the needs of a rapidly growing county.
Key improvements for members and families
The renovation focuses on the YMCA’s most heavily used spaces. The natatorium will be rebuilt and winterized, allowing swim lessons, team practices and lifesaving water‑safety programs to run year‑round. An additional changing room will ease congestion during peak hours. A brand‑new exercise studio will broaden wellness offerings, providing space for fitness classes, community events and special programming.
Community support drives the project
Last year, HomeBank Texas contributed a transformational $500,000 gift, securing naming rights for the future natatorium. This year, the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas launched phase one of construction, adding two new paved parking areas near the Small Fry Fields to improve accessibility for members, guests and staff.
To accelerate the campaign, the J.E.R. Chilton YMCA has received a $500,000 challenge grant from the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation. The YMCA must raise an additional $892,670 in community donations by January 13 2027 to unlock the grant, pushing the total fundraising goal to $5.2 million.
Impact on Rockwall’s growing population
Rockwall County was named the nation’s second‑fastest‑growing county by U.S. News & World Report in 2024. The expansion ensures the YMCA remains a central gathering place for current and future generations. Curt Hazelbaker, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, said, “After five decades of service, it’s time to write our next chapter. This construction project is a commitment to our community that says we’re rooted in Rockwall and will continue to invest in its future.”
Harold C. Young II, District Executive Director at the J.E.R. Chilton YMCA, highlighted recent program reach: more than 16,000 people served in 2025, including 13,000 members, 3,600 youth athletes, 1,900 participants in swim lessons and water‑safety classes, 584 after‑school program children, and 535 campers at day and adaptive camps. He added, “When you have a presence that can reach thousands of people, the space you host them in should feel just as inspiring as the programs.”
Timeline and next steps
Renovation work begins immediately, with completion slated for the summer of 2027. The YMCA invites community members to view a virtual tour of the planned upgrades and to contribute to the capital campaign through its website.
As Rockwall continues to expand, the J.E.R. Chilton YMCA’s investment in safe, family‑friendly facilities underscores the importance of local nonprofits in fostering healthy, faith‑grounded neighborhoods.
Original reporting: Blue Ribbon News (Rockwall) — read the source article.
