Tuscaloosa Officially Unveils New Benjamin Barnes YMCA

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The City of Tuscaloosa on Thursday held a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for the highly anticipated new Benjamin Barnes YMCA.

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The Elevate Tuscaloosa project first broke ground in October 2023 on the campus of the McDonald Hughes Community Center at 3011 Martin Luther King Boulevard.

As Patch previously reported, $10 million was initially set aside to construct the new YMCA branch in the city's West End, with $500,000 coming from Elevate Tuscaloosa and the remaining $9.5 million from the city's fiscal year 2022 bond issuance.

“The City only makes investments like the one we made in the Benjamin Barnes YMCA if we believe someone is going to do something remarkable,” Mayor Walt Maddox said. “We believe in our YMCA, its mission, and its impact on the young people of this community. With this magnificent facility and the outstanding team at the YMCA, we can surround and support our young people, ensuring we instill in them the power of hope.”

District 2 Councilor Raevan Howard said the new facility has been a priority for the City since before she joined the City Council.

“Thank you to Mayor Maddox, City leadership, and City staff for doing everything necessary to make this possible," Howard said. "It has taken a great deal of hard work and dedication to reach this point, and it’s all for the youth here—to ensure they can grow up in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment.”

Jeff Knox, CEO of YMCA Tuscaloosa, said the occasion marks the continuation of a legacy that started in 1953 when a group of visionary leaders decided the community needed a YMCA.

“The Benjamin Barnes YMCA will continue their legacy today, tomorrow, and into the future," he said.

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