Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - YMCA Buffalo Niagara announced plans on Monday for a 7-acre parcel of land in North Buffalo that will be transformed into YMCA Camp Swan, a site that will serve as a future summer camp and year-round community event space in the City of Buffalo.
The site, located at 1984 Elmwood Avenue, sat vacant and blighted for decades until it was purchased by the YMCA in late 2021.
A new wellness center was initially originally proposed for the location, but rising costs of construction and other financial challenges led to a re-imagined solution to fulfill the YMCA’s commitment to addressing the City of Buffalo’s unmet needs.
The YMCA Board of Directors approved this solution at the end of June.
"YMCA Camp Swan will become one of the safest places for children in our community and create new opportunities for disadvantaged children and families in the North Buffalo and West Side community,” said John Ehrbar, YMCA Buffalo Niagara President and CEO on Monday. "I want to thank all of our community stakeholders for making this project a reality. In particular, I’d like to thank the William E. and Ann L. Swan Foundation for their charitable contribution of $2.5 million for this project. This summer camp is being named in honor of Bill and Ann."
Camp Swan will serve as many as 200 children each week during the summer through day camp and summer learning loss programs.
Amenities on site will include a sports court, outdoor pool, nature playgrounds, and a vast open field space. It will also be used to provide free drowning prevention programs, youth sports leagues and play opportunities for children, and programs and collaborative events with other organizations who complement the YMCA’s mission.
The YMCA's funding for this project is currently at 80% of its goal of $5 million. They are anticipating a groundbreaking for the site in Spring 2025, with an expected opening by April 2026.