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A resolution recognizing Northwest YMCA’s 50th anniversary celebration.
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WHEREAS, in 1965, when Ralph Brunson became General Director of the Nashville YMCA, he immediately began evaluating how the Y could be more effective as an association; and
WHEREAS, soon after, the board commissioned a study of the greater Nashville area to identify communities in need of a YMCA and Northwest Nashville was among the neighborhoods identified in the study; and
WHEREAS, in 1966, at the urging of then YMCA Extension Chairman Roupen Gulbenk, and with potential leadership available through Fisk and Tennessee A & I Universities, the board authorized the establishment of a YMCA branch in North Nashville; and
WHEREAS, once the North Branch was established, Nashville YMCA leaders approached leaders of the colored YMCA about the possibility of a merger; and
WHEREAS, the colored YMCA had operated independently of the Nashville YMCA since obtaining its own charter in the 1920s, but in September of 1966, an agreement was reached to dissolve the Colored Y and to merge its efforts with the newly established branch of the Nashville YMCA; and
WHERAS, the branch was officially organized with 28 board members, 20 of whom were minorities and Julius Jones, a Youth Program Director from Jacksonville, Florida, became the branch’s first Executive Director; and
WHEREAS, prior to the construction of the existing building, the North Branch operated out of a temporary home on North Jefferson Street, where staff and volunteers led arts programs, and in cooperation with Fisk University, began a recreational program at the Juvenile Detention Center; and
WHEREAS, the land on which the Y now stands was purchased in 1968, and work began in earnest to first build an outdoor recreation facility and in the summer of 1969, before breaking ground on the building, the North Branch opened its outdoor pool; and
WHEREAS, to celebrate the grand opening, the Y welcomed the community to the pool for two days of free swimming and more than 2,000 people participated - evidence of the need for such a facility in the heart of Bordeaux and a preview of the Cool in the Pool program that the Y would later operate to teach inner city youth to swim; and
WHEREAS, with community programming well underway, the North Branch, renamed the Bordeaux-North YMCA, celebrated its grand opening and dedication on May 12, 1973, and for decades, this cornerstone of the Bordeaux community has enriched the lives of thousands of children and adults; and
WHEREAS, it was later renamed the Northwest Family YMCA, and in 2022, the location became home to Nashville’s first Blue Cross Healthy Place, a state-of-the-art, multi-generational recreational space that is open to the public; and
WHEREAS, in May 2023, the center will celebrate 50 years of serving as a wellness hub for individuals and families at every stage of life; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council go on record as recognizing the 50th anniversary of Northwest YMCA and wish them many more years of continued success.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. The Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as recognizing the 50th anniversary of Northwest YMCA.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.