Goodbye Joliet YMCA: Shorewood YMCA Groundbreaking Set

SHOREWOOD — The Greater Joliet Area YMCA announced on Friday that it will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Village of Shorewood YMCA from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 21.

Open to the community, this celebration will be at the site of the future facility, which will be located at 1801 W. Jefferson Street in Shorewood.

According to Friday's press release from the Joliet Area YMCA:

"Located along the thriving Route 52 corridor, the new nearly 60,000-square-foot YMCA, which is being built in partnership with the Village of Shorewood, will feature a wellness center, gymnasium, an eight-lane lap pool, group exercise studios, community rooms, and outdoor spaces for summer camps and youth sports programs. Upon opening, the new facility will also serve as the home for the Y’s Regional Office, which provides support and leadership to all YMCA branches and program sites in Will and Grundy Counties. It is anticipated that the new Village of Shorewood YMCA will open its doors to the community in spring 2026."

Guests attending the groundbreaking ceremony are encouraged to park at the Shorewood Village Hall, which is located on the north side of Jefferson Street at 1 Towne Center Boulevard.

Complimentary shuttles will be available to transport guests to and from the event.

As Joliet Patch has previously reported, when the new Shorewood YMCA opens in 2026, the Joliet Galowich YMCA along Houbolt Road will be closed, leaving Joliet without any more YMCA. The Smith YMCA on Briggs Street closed a few years ago.