Oswego YMCA receives grant from local foundation

OSWEGO, NY– The Richard S. Shineman Foundation is helping restore downtown Oswego by giving $1.2 million dollars in grant money to the greater Oswego area. The Oswego YMCA received a $300,000 grant from the foundation and plans to use the newly acquired funds to reopen a popular facility.

“The grant will go towards reopening our popular pool which is used for classes, events and swimming lessons which is important, being a port city,” YMCA Executive Director Kerrie Ann Webb said.

Since the “Y” moved into the armory a year and a half ago, the pool has remained closed. Webb said she is extremely grateful for the Shineman Foundation, whose grant will reopen a pool which taught generations of Oswego residents how to swim.

The Oswego YMCA will put aside part of the grant towards connecting the main YMCA building to the facility which houses their pool. They plan on reconstructing an old storage garage and creating a passage way through both existing buildings.

The YMCA also plans on transforming the garage into locker rooms for men and women.

Kerrie Ann Webb said the YMCA is hoping to build an ADA compliant atrium with the money received from the Shineman grant so that parent’s have somewhere to watch their children take swimming lessons, along with a unisex sauna.