Construction of the Alexander Jones Wright YMCA Youth Center is underway in downtown Raleigh, launching an exciting development for youth in the area. Set to be built on the Alexander Family YMCA campus, this 10,000-square-foot facility will provide much-needed resources for kids and teens, including spaces for academic assistance, after school programs, physical activities and summer camps.
“Providing kids and teens with a safe and fun space outside of home and school is a driving principle of the YMCA mission,” Bruce Ham, YMCA CEO, said. “We know it is critical to their physical, mental and social emotional health to have somewhere they can know and grow their self-worth, where they can unplug and be themselves and where they can be active, creative and studious.”
This new youth center is expected to open in late 2025, representing a strategic expansion for our Y and our commitment to positive youth development. The project was made possible through an $8.5 million investment funded by private donations, state and federal grants, and contributions like $1.5 million from North Carolina’s Fiscal Recovery Reserve and $1 million from the federal 2024 Government Funding Package.
Congresswoman Deborah Ross, instrumental in securing federal funding, emphasized the importance of creating supportive environments for young people, especially as they continue to face challenges in a post-pandemic world.
“Our kids our struggling, it’s been very difficult since the pandemic,” Rep. Ross said. “Our community is growing, and we need to make sure that there are healthy places for them to be, where they can play, where they can grow up and thrive.”
The center is named in honor of three long-serving YMCA employees: Pearl Alexander, Earl Jones and Willie Wright, who collectively worked for the Y more than 130 years.
With progress, there will be some growing pains. Construction will have variable impact on parking and facility access for the foreseeable future. Stay up-to-date on the current status of roads and projects.
