Renovations Begin at YMCA REACH Center at Winston Lake

Jacob Gauthier

June 12, 2024

On June 10, the Winston Lake Family YMCA held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of the renovation and transformation of the facility into the YMCA REACH Center at Winston Lake.

June 12, 2024

YMCA Reach Winston-Salem — *Photo courtesy of YMCA*

The Background

The Winston Lake Family YMCA first opened its doors on June 1, 1985. The YMCA branch has impacted the community it serves in East Winston through:

Initiating the Y Achievers youth program in 1987
Piloting the Reaching Our Potential teen referral program in 2022
Engaging its older adult population, who come for companionship, group exercise classes, card club, and more
Hosting “The Table,” which makes food available to those with gaps in their nutrition

What is the REACH Center?

The YMCA REACH Center at Winston Lake is a community hub that combines the YMCA’s services with those of other human service organizations, such as Novant Health and Goodwill. The REACH Center will occupy the same space as the Winston Lake Family YMCA and feature new amenities and services.

What To Expect

The new amenities at the REACH Center will include:

An expanded lobby functioning as a community gathering space
A primary services care clinic from Novant Health
Renovated childcare facilities
Multi-purpose classrooms
Enhanced wellness spaces
Updated locker rooms

The multi-purpose classrooms will allow for the hosting of programs such as career navigation services from Goodwill, job training, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and English for speakers of other languages.

Services through the REACH Center will include healthcare, daycare, and a food pantry.

Why Does It Matter?

The East Winston community experiences disparities such as educational challenges and a lack of economic mobility and healthcare resources.

The REACH Center will address those disparities by creating a centralized space where individuals can access the resources and education they need to reach their full potential.

Timeline of the REACH Center Renovation

The renovation is projected to take 8-10 months; updates to the roof and HVAC systems are expected to begin this month.

The facility will close for 6-8 months during the process to allow updates to the plumbing system.

Those with memberships at the Winston Lake Family YMCA can use their memberships at any YMCA location in the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina association. Nearby locations include: