After much planning, the long-awaited Lakeland Community Center has taken a major step toward becoming a reality. The project, a partnership between the City of Lakeland and the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South, will see the construction of a state-of-the-art facility where the Econo Lodge Motel was previously located on Huff N Puff Rd. The facility is expected to open by January 2027.
The agreement was finalized in a Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting Thursday evening at City Hall. The project is also backed by a Gateway Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan, which allows the city to capture funds from nearby developments, such as Ashmont, to help finance the center. “This is something we’ve been working on and talking about for a while,” said Michael Walker, Lakeland’s city manager.
The new center will feature a 38,820-square-foot building that includes an early learning childcare center, a multipurpose gymnasium, workout studios, fitness spaces, and locker rooms. Outside, the site will boast a fitness airnasium and an outdoor pool with seating space. A previous version of the facility showed a baseball field and lazy river but that is no longer part of the plans.
Officials credit a recent trip to Houston, where Lakeland leaders toured YMCA facilities, with shaping some of the design decisions for the center. Key improvements include a larger gym and open sightlines for better flow and visibility.
Under the terms of the agreement, the YMCA will manage the facility and be responsible for maintenance and repairs, similar to the city’s firehouse agreement. Lakeland will own the building, but the YMCA will handle day-to-day operations, including upkeep within certain limits.
The projected cost for the project is $21.3 million. The YMCA will contribute $4.8 million, with the remainder funded through an anticipated Department of Human Services (DHS) grant for the early learning center and an $11 million USDA loan, which was successfully used to fund the construction of Lakeland Prep.
Vice Mayor Michele Dial, who chaired the meeting, emphasized the importance of the project, especially in addressing the lack of affordable childcare in the area. “We are living in a childcare desert, where affordable childcare is really needed,” she said.
The center is expected to generate $1.45 million in its first year of operation, with revenue projections rising to $1.85 million by 2030.
Not all commissioners were in agreement. Commissioner Connie McCarter voted against the project, citing unresolved inconsistencies. When pressed on the specifics, McCarter declined to elaborate, saying, “No further comment.”
