History of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas

For over 135 years, the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas has been proud to serve our community. Thanks to our members, donors, board members, staff, and volunteers the Dallas YMCA association has been able to strengthen the foundation of our community through healthy living, youth development and social responsibility. Over the years the Y has grown, but our mission, values and commitment have not. Please take a brief look at our history.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas was founded in November 1885 as a non-profit organization. From that period until today, it has been a growth-oriented organization and an important member of the developing Dallas community. Today, the Dallas YMCA is composed of 16 branches, 2 camps, and hundreds of program sites, with a service area from Anna on the north to Waxahachie on the south; Royse City to the east and Graford to the west. Much has changed in the years of service of the Dallas Y. The present Downtown facility serving the business community is the third location in the downtown area. The first was on Commerce Street, now the site of the Hilton Hotel, and the second on North Ervay, now the Lincoln Building.

The first branch operations were established in the 1920’s. The Moorland Branch was opened to serve the diverse community of Dallas. From then until today, Moorland YMCA has helped to bring understanding between the races. The Oak Cliff Branch and the landmark structure of the Downtown Branch were built at the same time. Through the years as a result of 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989, and 1995 capital campaigns, other Branches were constructed throughout our community to bring the services of the YMCA to all people.

The YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas is a member of the World Alliance of YMCAs. The Young Men’s Christian Association’s movement originated in London, England in 1844. It was the concept of Sir George Williams who felt a need for the development of Christian leadership and ideals among the young men who were then migrating to the city in search of their futures. The progressive idea that a healthy body, an active mind, and a Christian spirit would produce a valuable member of the community is not so far removed from today’s modern concept of total wellness.

Many organizations began as YMCA programs and evolved to their own identities including the Red Cross, U.S.O., Boy Scouts, and Camp Fire Girls. Both basketball and volleyball were sports invented within the YMCA.

YMCA’s across the world conduct a variety of programs in more than ninety countries today, seeking to service the individual needs of the locale while remaining neutral and promoting Christian ideals. The Dallas YMCA offers over four hundred different programs and is constantly reevaluating and planning for the future. The Dallas YMCA enjoys the support of its many members, volunteers, and program participants and knows that the next one hundred years will be as exciting as those preceding.

 

  • 1885 Dallas YMCA begins with 24 charter memberships and a $4,000 annual budget
    • The 1,100 member YMCA opens its first facility on Commerce Street
  • 1922 The Dallas YMCA opens Camp Crockett
  • 1928 A capital campaign raised over $1,000,000 for construction of three branches
  • 1931 Completed 15 story Downtown YMCA
    • Formed Moorland and Oak Cliff branches
  • 1935 The YMCA's fiftieth anniversary was marked with a new metropolitan organizational structure, laying the foundation for expansion
  • 1940 Dallas population booms to 300,000
  • 1944 South Dallas and Park Cities branches begin
  • 1947 First female member joins Park Cities YMCA
  • 1949 Camp Grady Spruce opens on Possum Kingdom Lake
  • 1955 Addition of East Dallas, Grand Prairie and White Rock branches brings the Association to nine branches and three camps with income of $726,820
  • 1958 Town North YMCA began as an extension of Park Cities YMCA, East Dallas YMCA locates to Worth Street House, Association membership reaches 21,404 with 3,361 female members
  • 1960 Although operating since 1957 as an extension, Irving YMCA was founded
  • 1961 Town North YMCA expands with the Richardson YMCA extension branch
  • 1965 Garland YMCA opens to the community
  • 1966 Plano YMCA started as a joint effort between Plano Jaycees and the Richardson YMCA
  • 1968 Mayor Erik Jonsson's generous challenge gift initiated Park South YMCA
  • 1969 A $6.5 Million dollar campaign provides new sites and renovations, Rockwall Memorial Youth Center becomes the Rockwall YMCA
  • 1974 The Community Services YMCA begins
  • 1975 Casa Youth Shelter opens
  • 1979 A major capital campaign raises $10,000,000
  • 1982 New Downtown YMCA facility opens
  • 1986 Coppell Y begins as an extension of Lewisville, Waxahachie YMCA opens
  • 1990 Capital Campaign for the 21st Century begins raising over $42,000,000
  • 1991 Frisco YMCA begins as an extension of Plano
  • 1996 McKinney YMCA opens with a generous donation from Stonebridge branch
  • 1999 Coppell YMCA opens a new facility

  • 2000 YMCA expands with the opening of the new Lake Highlands and White Rock facilities, Plano relocates to Legacy Park, Lakewest YMCA opens as part of a partnership with the Dallas Housing Authority
  • 2001 Las Colinas opens as an extension of the Coppell YMCA
  • 2002 Major expansion at McKinney, Downtown Dallas and Coppell YMCA's
  • 2003 YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas passes the 100,000 member mark
  • 2003 YMCA launches first Key Leaders Luncheon event
  • 2003 President George W. Bush visits the Lakewest Family YMCA
  • 2004 YMCA launches new programs, member initiatives and plans for a new capital expansion and renovation program
  • 2005 Strong Kids Capital Campaign leads to South Grand Prairie expansion, Plano YMCA and Park South Sports field
  • 2006 Expansion on the Town North YMCA completed
  • 2007 Casa Shelter program transitions to Salvation Army
  • 2008 Frisco YMCA opens a new 25,000 square foot facility on Main Street
  • 2008 Moorland YMCA completes its renovations
  • 2008 Camp Grady Spruce finishes 5 new duplex cabins and new staff housing
  • 2008 T. Boone Pickens gives $5 million to the Strong Kids Capital Campaign, the largest gift ever to the Dallas YMCA
  • 2009 Downtown YMCA reopens as the T. Boone Pickens YMCA
  • 2010 Dallas YMCA celebrates 125 years of serving the children and families of North Texas
  • 2011 Dallas YMCA unveils the new National YMCA logo and begins re-branding all YMCA facilities
  • 2012 J.E.R. (Bob) Chilton made a generous gift of $2.5 million to the Rockwall YMCA to rename the branch the J.E.R. Chilton YMCA at Rockwall
  • 2013 Russell Creek Family YMCA renamed Plano Family YMCA
  • 2013 The Moody Foundation donates $8 million, the largest gift ever received by YMCA Dallas, to support the building of the new Park Cities Family YMCA
  • 2013 Park South Family YMCA was selected as a recipient from Crystal Charity Ball's 2013 Ball with a gift of $796 thousand
  • 2013 White Rock YMCA breaks ground to start construction for the new YMCA facility
  • 2014 Park South YMCA unveils facility upgrades thanks to Crystal Charity Ball's gift
  • 2014 J.E.R. Chilton officially opened newly expanded facility
  • 2014 Park Cities YMCA closes after 63 years and opens interim space in preparation to breaking ground on the new Moody Family YMCA in the Park Cities
  • 2014 2,947 kids at 142 apartment communities throughout the metroplex completed a Make A Splash pre or post-swim test
  • 2014 Jillian Michaels host BODYSHRED event at the T. Boone Pickens YMCA
  • 2015 Dallas YMCA hosts 130th Annual meeting
  • 2015 White Rock YMCA officially opens new facility
  • 2015 YMCA breaks ground on new Moody Family YMCA in the Park Cities
  • 2016 Moody Family YMCA at Park Cities grand opening
  • 2016 The Ashford Rise School of Dallas opens at the Moody Family YMCA
  • 2017 50th Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot held on Thanksgiving Day
  • 2018 Y Dallas launches YMCA Day of Giving fundraising event
  • 2018 Association receives inaugural DCEO Magazine Top Nonprofit Organization of the Year award
  • 2019 The YMCA celebrates 175 years, formed on June 6, 1844
  • 2019 Town North YMCA is renamed the Semones Family YMCA after Jack Semones, Exec Director from 1958-1969
  • 2019 A new strategic plan is developed called "Building Stronger Communities For All" for 2020-2024
  • 2019 A new comprehensive growth strategy is approved by the Board and announced
  • 2019 Camp Grady Spruce turned 70 years old
  • 2020 Lake Highlands and Semones Family Y begin planned renovations as a part of growth strategy
  • 2020 In March, the Dallas Y shut the doors to branches due to COVID-19 per mandate by local authorities and health officials
  • 2020 In June, the Y reopened its doors after being closed due to COVID-19
  • 2020 The Lakewest and Irving branches close and Moorland and Oak Cliff branches merge into the Moorland Family YMCA at Oak Cliff
  • 2020 Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion announced with a new VP and DE&I Board Committee
  • 2020 17th Annual Key Leaders Luncheon event held virtually for the first time ever
  • 2020 53rd Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot held virtually for the first time ever