Residents OK Plan to Build YMCA at Vance Vogel Park in Gibsonton

Residents had no real objections to the county and YMCA's plans to locate a new Y at the Vance Vogel Sports Complex in Gibsonton.

However, they wondered why the county was contributing $2 million to the YMCA when so many county sports fields, including the nearby East Bay Little League fields, are sorely in need of renovations.

A roomful of residents attended a public meeting Tuesday, Jan. 31, to hear plans to locate a new YMCA on 30 acres of vacant land on the southern edge of Vance Vogel Park,13012 Bullfrog Creek Rd., Gibsonton.

The Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA wants to build a full-service YMCA including an aquatics center and sports fields on the site.

"Weve been testing the water to see if a YMCA is needed in this area," said Cindy Sofarelli, district vice president of the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA. "Almost 700 people have given feedback that they'd like to see a Y in this area."

She noted that the Y already is offering senior programs at Southbay Hospital in Sun City Center and youth programs at Summerfield Crossings.

"We're very excited about the possibility of building a new Y," she said.

The project would be jointly funded with Hillsborough County, which would contribute $2 million in addition to the property.

"We've had several collaborations with the county, and they've been very successful," said Sofarelli. "The county can help us by providing capital and we would have all the operating costs. The county's been very supportive, and we're so grateful."

However, Dean Walters, president of the East Bay Little League, questioned why the county would appropriate $2 million for a YMCA when the Little League fields needed improvement.

This first meeting was simply to discuss the location of the new Y. Another public meeting will be held to talk about the new Y facility and what services it will offer.

"We have a lot of work to do before we know exactly what will go there," said Kurt Gremley of the county's Real Estate Department. "But before we go through all the work for regulatory approvals and funding, we want to make sure this is the right site."

He added that there's no schedule for the second public meeting.

"We have no definitive timelines," he said. "But we hope to get plans finalized some time this year.

For more information, contact the Hillsborough County’s Real Estate Department at 813-272-5810.