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Guyton and Y officials express excitement about future facility
Guyton Y press conference
At the press conference Oct. 11 announcing the YMCA’s agreement to lease land and buildings from the City of Guyton, Joel Smoker, CEO of the YMCA of Coastal Georgia said, “Every Y is unique to the community it serves.” Pictured (from left) is Guyton Mayor Russ Deen, Smoker, and city councilmembers Hursula Pelote, Michael Johnson, Joseph Lee, and Marshall Reiser. (Photos by Barbara Augsdorfer/Effingham Herald.)

By Barbara Augsdorfer, Editor for the Effingham Herald

Maybe it was a sound check, or maybe they just couldn’t resist, but prior to the press conference on Oct. 11 with officials from the YMCA of Coastal Georgia and the City of Guyton, the 1978 disco hit from the Village People, Y.M.C.A., blared over the public-address system.

“The YMCA will not only serve the citizens of Guyton – we have 2,500 citizens here -- but I see it serve in the entire north end of the county,” said Maketa Brown, Guyton City Manager.

“Who has a better brand for community development and enrichment for families than the YMCA?” Brown asked. “They have a rich history of supporting our communities, our families, and developing our teens and our youth. And Guyton is an amazing place for this to start for our city.”

The City of Guyton is not paying to remodel the buildings or build the childcare facility. Brown added that if the continuation of the Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) is approved by the voters on Nov. 7, TSPLOST funding can be used to pave the road on the property to the buildings since the property is city owned.

Mayor Deen spoke how the Y will be for teens to have a place to learn and grow outside of school; and also for seniors who need a place to take classes, socialize, and continue to be a vibrant part of the community.

Russ Deen
Mayor Russ Deen applies the location sticker for the future Guyton Y on the YMCA of Coastal Georgia map as CEO Joel Smoker looks on.
“I'd like to thank this amazing council,” Deen said. “Without these people, the purchase of this property for a recreation facility, to have a vision and see what's possible, rather than just the easy outs and the quick fixes, and see that this can be a benefit for decades to come.”

CEO of the YMCA of Coastal Georgia Joel Smoker said that the Guyton Y will offer the programs and opportunities the community wants. Collaboration is key.

“It is about the community,” Smoker said. “So, to help us round out our menu of programs here in Guyton, we're going to be seeking collaborations with community members. So that we can come up with a strong direction for what this Y will become. We need that collaboration.”

The existing buildings will soon be able to offer programs for seniors during the day; and after-school programs for children and teens in the afternoon in the smaller building; while the larger building is slated to have a variety of weightlifting equipment and fitness classes.

Savannah-based architectural firm Felder and Associates has already been hired to remodel and upgrade the two buildings.