The Y wants to sell its property on Pacific Boulevard and build on part of Timber-Linn Park

If everything goes according to plan, the YMCA in Albany will have a new center in Timber-Linn Park by 2008, and the city will have use of it for all kinds of recreation programs.

The City Council Monday heard the general outlines of an agreement with the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA. Councilors gave Ed Hodney, parks and recreation director, the OK to continue working on the agreement.

The Y plans to sell its property on Pacific Boulevard and construct a new family recreation center on part of Timber-Linn Park.

Hodney outlined the major features of the agreement, which he said will take several more months to finalize:

The city plans to sell the Y the site and acquire property of the same size to add back to the park.

The building will have two gyms and a pool. One of the gyms will be operated by the city, and both parties will have use of each other's facilities in the park and the building. The project will go through the city site review and conditional-use-permit process, and there will be a public hearing on the permit.

When finished, the project will accommodate overflow parking from the nearby Linn County Fair & Expo Center.

While the plan is to have the new Y open in early 2008, Hodney said that "a lot of things have to happen" for that target to be met.

Council members repeated their support of the deal with the Y.

Councilwoman Sharon Konopa, though, wanted to be sure that the arrangement would have tangible benefits for the city, and Hodney assured her it would.

Councilman Jeff Christman said the Y deal was the kind of public-private partnership that would help make Timber-Linn a showcase.

Councilman Doug Killin, running for mayor this fall, said he was wholeheartedly in favor of the deal. Mayor Chuck McLaran, retiring after this term, also supports it.

Councilman Dick Olsen liked the idea that the Y would offer something to do for family members of anyone attending conventions at the Expo Center.

Council members Bessie Johnson and Ralph Reid Jr. also spoke in support of the project.

Any final agreement with the Y will be subject to council approval later, following a public hearing.

The Y is raising money for the move. Jim Asleson, the Y director, said some $6.5 million has been raised, assuming the sale of the Y's property, and the fund-raising goal is $9.8 million.

Democrat-Herald