It was June 2001 when we decided to build a house on a small Snoqualmie Ridge dirt lot. I was newly pregnant with my 4th child and had stars in my 
eyes, thinking of the kids playing in the cul-de-sac and a community center up the street. We were moving from a fast-growing community that had such a center. My oldest daughters spent hours there learning to swim, taking dance classes and in preschool.
Flash forward 10 years. That baby in my belly is now 9 and nearing the end of 3rd grade. My oldest is 16 – longing to drive. She was six and missing front teeth when we moved here. I am now on my second Snoqualmie Ridge home – and come June 9th, Snoqualmie is finally breaking ground on a community center.
Sometimes it feels like a lifetime has passed. Plans changed. Three bond attempts failed. It is now a YMCA community center. That envisioned 35,000 ft. facility shrunk to 13,000 ft. without a pool. But sometimes life is about adapting – and at long-last putting that shovel in the ground.
As the new Snoqualmie Valley YMCA ramps up for its June groundbreaking, the charter membership drive kicks off. Each day from June 1st – 8th, the YMCA logoed mini-bus will be at sites throughout the Snoqualmie Valley. This YMCA membership caravan is the first opportunity for residents to join the Y as charter members. To see when the membership drive hits your city, here’s the schedule: YMCA_Snoqualmie Poster_FINAL_8Days
Each membership completed 
during those first eight days is entered into a drawing to be the “first member of the Snoqualmie Valley YMCA.” The drawing takes place during the Y’s official groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, June 9th, from 4:30PM – 6PM at Snoqualmie Community Park, 35016 SE Ridge Street. The YMCA hosted event features City of Snoqualmie speakers who will finally put those first shovels in the dirt – signaling the start of construction. The new Snoqualmie Valley Y hopes to open in January 2012.
A Family Celebration powered by Radio Disney and Flatout Flatbread follows the groundbreaking ceremony from 6:00PM – 8:00PM. This community family event features Charter Membership sales and information, bounce houses, games, crafts, music, karaoke and more. All valley residents are invited to attend the groundbreaking and family celebration.
For Charter Membership Information please contact Membership Director Leah Jensen at ljensen@seattleymca.org or 425-647-1184. You can also get Snoqualmie Valley YMCA updates by “liking” their new Facebook page here.
