The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

February 9, 2010

UPDATE: Rec plan gets tentative OK; Greenville to vote on YMCA offer

By Monica Pryts

GREENVILLE, SHENANGO VALLEY — The proposed partnership between Shenango Valley YMCA and Greenville that would ensure the future of recreation in northern Mercer County is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Board members of Greenville Area Leisure Services Association on Monday agreed to proceed with looking into the partnership, a resolution that Greenville council will vote on today.

All aspects of the plan like firm financial figures and other projections need to be thoroughly discussed, not only among GALSA, YMCA and council members, but also with community members, GALSA member Randy Ferguson said.

“They need to know what they’re getting for their money,” GALSA member Mark Gaus said of those who pay for recreation and leisure services.

Moving forward with the proposal will help fix GALSA’s and Greenville’s problems of how they operate separately and together, he said, adding it’s a “win-win situation.”

GALSA has been overseeing recreation in the Greenville area for 62 years and has been struggling financially. Council members in October proposed to dissolve GALSA and create a recreation commission, a plan GALSA board members said they weren’t aware of.

Joellen Arenas, YMCA’s chief executive officer, gave preliminary details at council’s Thursday work session, saying Greenville is the “missing link” when it comes to YMCA’s presence in that part of the county.

While no plans are on paper and could take a year to finalize, the proposal is garnering positive feedback from community members, GALSA President Becky McFadden and council President Brian Shipley said Monday.

Shipley said he’s sure council will vote to move forward with the plan.

If council is on board, that would show the borough’s long-term commitment to the importance of recreation, Gaus said. It would also mean more opportunities for the Shenango Valley.

“We have an enormous amount to offer them that they don’t have,” he said of GALSA programs and services, which Ms. Arenas said GALSA would continue to offer and oversee with the partnership.

The bottom line is that everyone who’s part of the decision-making process should stay with it to keep providing recreation, Gaus said.

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