JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- Jacksonville city officials teamed up with some community members to open up New River YMCA this summer.
- This will be the only YMCA between Wilmington and New Bern.
- The goal is to open by June, by the time school is out for summer.
- New River YMCA will operate two summer camps throughout the county.
This will be the only YMCA between Wilmington and New Bern, after the founding group managed to raise more than $1 million for renovations and leased a vacant 9,500 square foot building on Chaney Avenue. The city agreed to fix the roof and offered up AC units.
"We're going to provide health and wellness. Youth development and also the activity of families, of Christian and spiritual values that are the missions of the YMCA,” said Billy Sewell, the founding chairman of the New River YMCA.
The goal is to open by June, by the time school is out for summer.
New River YMCA will operate two summer camps throughout the county, and will work in a partnership with Onslow County schools to run 12 of their before and after school programs starting in the fall.