- December 4, 2025
The Volusia Flagler YMCA has asked Flagler Schools to help fund the new Palm Coast YMCA.
The YMCA is asking Flagler Schools to contribute $3 million for the $16 million project. Volusia Flagler YMCA board member John Walsh said the proposal would provide Flagler Schools a "unique competitive advantage...in this new age of vouchers and school choice."
“We're not here today looking for a handout," Walsh said. "Instead, we seek a mutual beneficial partnership."
School Board members at the July 22 meeting said they were open to exploring their options, but drew the line at using tax dollars to fund the project.
"I'm not a fan of using tax dollars for private things," School Board member Christy Chong said. She suggested the board look for other ways to fund the project, including potentially selling some land. "It's something to think about, finding funds instead of using what we already have."
The proposed facility is planned for Central Avenue, adjacent to The Stage at Town Center, and just minutes from Flagler-Palm Coast High School. The lot is 12.4 acres that is owned by Palm Coast.
The proposed facility will 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.
But the swimming pool is the biggest draw for Flagler Schools.
The planned swimming pool will be an Olympic-sized pool with 18-21 lanes and 8.5 feet deep on the deep end. It will be zero-entry, meaning the entrance will be sloped, without steps or stairs. There will not be a diving space.
Flagler Schools uses its Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club for its students to use, as well as using space at Palm Coast's city pool.
But, Flagler School Board Chair Will Furry said, those pools are aging out.
"From Flagler schools perspective, there is a need to maintain be cool for our athletics," Furry said. "There's definitely a need for newer facilities."
Of the $16 million needed for the project, Walsh said, Palm Coast has verbally committed $3 million to the project plus the land, valued at $2 million. Another $4 million is earmarked from a private individual for the naming rights at the YMCA, he said, and Florida state appropriations has given them just over $2 million in funding for the project as well.
If Flagler Schools commits to $3 million, that would get them to $14 million of the needed $16 million. A third-party fundraising group will help the get the rest, Walsh said.
The YMCA's Aquatic Center would fill all of Flagler School's aquatic needs, including potentially hosting swim competitions.
Seilkop and Walsh said the Volusia Flagler YMCA is open to a variety of options to partner with Flagler Schools, including reduced rates for teachers to use a section of the YMCA personally, and potentially reduced rates for families with an enrolled Flagler Schools child.
Walsh said their board is even open to co-owning the YMCA with Flagler Schools.
"Whether it's shares of a corporation or square footage or a condo or however that relationship is," he said.
Furry said his main concern was if the pool was already "over-committed" and if Flagler students would still have access to it.
Seilkop said the YMCA has experience with juggling community and school needs, including neighboring high schools and YMCAs with Olympic-sized pools. With the number of proposed lanes at this pool, he said he did not believe it would be over-booked.
But regardless, he said, Flagler Schools won't need to be concerned about capacity.
"You guys have first priority," he said.
When building a YMCA, he said, "you want to design a facility around programs." Since the YMCA knows what kind of programs are needed, they can build the design around the need.
Furry said the item will need to be reviewed by legal council before the board can make a decision or move forward.
