- May 23, 2025
It’s been 14 years since Palm Coast’s YMCA gym closed. Now, the Volusia Flagler Family YMCA is ready to start again with a new $16 million facility in Palm Coast.
All Palm Coast needs to contribute is $3 million, said Chris Seilkop, the president and CEO of the Volusia Flagler Family YMCA. The YMCA will ask the same amount from the Flagler School Board, he said, as the YMCA plans to work with the schools to offer space and programs for their youths.
Seilkop said he's rarely seen a community as invested in having their own YMCA.
“This is by far the most energetic community I've seen in wanting a YMCA," he said. "The zeal is very refreshing, to be honest with you.”
The biggest draw is the Olympic-sized swimming pool. Seilkop said he has analyzed the needs of the Flagler County and Palm Coast communities and the two biggest needs, he said, are a pool and a gym.
“You have a huge need in this community for that," he said.
The proposed facility is planned for Central Avenue, adjacent to The Stage at Town Center. According to the Flagler County Property Appraiser's website, the lot is a 12.4-acre lot that is owned by Palm Coast.
Meeting documents state the facility would be 44,000 square feet in size and feature multiple amenities, including a sports gym with three volleyball courts, childcare rooms, a wellness center, a group exercise room and locker rooms.
The swimming pool with 18-21 lanes, according to the meeting documents and be 8.5 feet deep on the deep end. The pool will be zero-entry, meaning the entrance will be sloped, without steps or stairs. There will not be a diving space.
"I’ve tried to design the pool based on the needs I've heard of the community," he said.
A zero-entry pool would allow for physical therapy treatments for patients, Seilkop said. Additionally, he said, the programs offered at the facility would be tailored to the Flagler County community, possibly including programs like synchronized swimming, lap lessons and water aerobics.
Not here to take over but to “fill in the gaps” of what a community needs for programs.
"My job is to create win, win, wins," he said. "Wins for the community, wins for the YMCA and wins for the city.
While the city has struggled to keep the Palm Coast Aquatics Center running, Seilkop in contrast was confident. He even suggested that, with the council's approval, the YMCA team help city staff with running the Freida Zamba pool and possibly saving the city money.
"We think we can do it more efficiently and provide the same services, if not more," he said.
Down the line, the goal would be to replace the facility.
"With approval from the city approval from the school board our conversation changes from 'coming soon' to 'coming','" said Volusia Flagler YMCA board member John Walsh.
But the funding request is no small matter. Previously, Palm Coast and Volusia Flagler YMCA have sought funding for a Flagler County YMCA through state appropriations in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, the YMCA received a $5 million grant, $1 million of which was intended toward a new facility in Flagler County.
Palm Coast’s $6 million request for state appropriations toward a YMCA were vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2024.
Flagler County has not had a YMCA since its last facility - which rented space from the Florida Hospital Flagler - closed in 2011.
Seilkop said fundraising would take around 18 months.
"It's fluid," he said. "Maybe two years, maybe sooner. It all depends."
