Downtown RI YWCA ready for its closeup

The new 64,000-square-foot YWCA Quad Cities in downtown Rock Island has been five years in the making. Its champions have weathered a global pandemic and battled a supply chain meltdown that sent construction costs skyrocketing from $15.4 million to nearly $20 million, delayed material delivery and made completion a moving target. Despite those and other […]

The new 64,000-square-foot YWCA Quad Cities in downtown Rock Island has been five years in the making. Its champions have weathered a global pandemic and battled a supply chain meltdown that sent construction costs skyrocketing from $15.4 million to nearly $20 million, delayed material delivery and made completion a moving target. Despite those and other challenges, when leaders throw open the Rock Island location’s doors for the official ribbon-cutting on Monday, June 3, visitors will find an inviting and impressive center designed to serve multiple uses and the organization's current and future needs. “That’s what I think we’ve done well with this building: We’ve used every space very well,” YWCA Quad Cities President and CEO Julie Larson said. That also was apparent to a pair of QCBJ reporters who were treated to a look inside the striking industrial-style building that features precast concrete walls, steel structures and kid-friendly colors and touches.  

Our tour guides were Ms. Larson, who has captained the project from idea to reality, and Holly Sparkman, a retired public relations leader who is lending her expertise and energy to the project. The new YWCA was built on a lot that once was home to Zimmerman Honda and Sanitary Cleaners, Ms. Larson said. With the addition of a proposed rooftop patio space, the building’s usable space would grow to 72,000 square feet – or triple the old YW location’s 24,000 square feet.  “The old building was built in 1954 and was never meant for child care,” Ms. Larson added. “It was built for health and wellness. It was a social club.” It wasn’t until 1986 that the Rock Island YWCA opened its first preschool classroom.  Before long, ensuring that every child is “afforded the opportunity to attend a quality preschool program” became a core mission, Ms. Larson said. As demand grew, however, the YW struggled to adapt its smaller, older spaces to modern requirements. So leaders began exploring adding new spaces to its existing 229 16th St. location.  “When we started all of this our intention was to really expand the YWCA into our annex building next door,” she said. “So we put a big business plan together and went to some funders and they said, ‘Quite frankly, we’d rather support a new facility than taking two old buildings and merging them together.’” The YWCA made new plans. Then the Doris and Victor Day Foundation “really stepped up to the plate and gave the first lead gift for the campaign,” Ms. Larson said. “If they hadn't done so, I don’t even know if this building would have come to fruition because you need that first lead gift so that others who are looking are thinking, ‘OK, maybe we will.’”  Next, the John Deere Foundation came on board and other funders followed. The initial capital campaign raised 100% of its $15.4 million funding goal and a groundbreaking was held in September 2021. As costs grew, so did the need for more dollars. Donors responded but the YWCA still needs to raise the final $600,000. To salute the project’s funders and other supporters, earlier this month the YWCA toasted them at a private champagne reception. Among the YW’s supporters, Ms. Larson said, is Rock Island Parks and Recreation Director John Gripp.   "The YWCA is a great organization that provides wonderful services to our community,” he told the QCBJ. “There is more need in Rock Island than there are services, especially in the downtown. The Rock Island Parks and Recreation Department looks forward to growing our partnership with them and their continued success."  The YWCA is equally eager to partner with Rock Island Parks and Recreation. “We fully plan to collaborate on swim lessons, potential lifeguards, if we don’t have enough and vice versa, possibly pool management and then there’s other areas down the road,” she added. “It’s something brand new, we just don't know what to expect.”

RI right site for YW

The new YWCA was built by Davenport-based Bush Construction, the general contractor who steered the project at challenging times. And the project they guided is one of a trio of private projects that already are breathing new life into the downtown. Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms is a YWCA Quad Cities fan. "We are excited to have this new facility in the heart of downtown Rock Island," he told the QCBJ. "The expansive space provides more options for safe and affordable child care in Rock Island and in turn will strengthen our community by helping families who need it the most.” The siting was intentional. “We wanted to maintain our downtown Rock Island location and remain true to our roots,” Ms. Larson said. “This is where we started out and you can even see the old building from here and I can see the new building from our (old) buildings.” What will become of the old building and the annex? At this writing, there were deals in the works, but leaders declined to give details until they are finalized. For now, getting the new building open remains Priority No. 1. When the QCBJ visited the new YWCA, leaders still were awaiting classroom furniture and other finishing touches. But their absence did not make the new space any less impressive. Indeed, when visitors come through the main entrance, they are quickly greeted by a massive wall featuring poster-sized photos of the smiling faces of children and youth served by YWCA programs. Ms. Sparkman did the heavy lifting on the installation and created the posters, which are anchored by a historic photo of Susan Denkman-Hauberg. She was the first major benefactor of the Rock Island YWCA which got its start in 1917. Program spaces stretch across three floors, and the building also includes much-needed administrative offices, and for the first time ever a dedicated board conference room. There’s also a breakroom and other spaces for staff who had few amenities in their old digs.

Service drove design

As the tour quickly revealed, however, serving children, youth, famlies and the community was the driving force in the YWCA’s design.  That begins with modern well-equipped  classrooms – many boasting right-sized, in-room restrooms – and lockers to serve infants to pre-Kindergarten students. Those classrooms and, indeed, all of the buildings include state-of-the-art security features, Ms. Larson said. Then there's the new empowerment center that will act as a satellite to the YWCA’s new Empowerment Center located at 1115 Mississippi Ave. in Davenport. Rock Island will offer some of the same services, such as a food pantry and clothes closet as well as critical employment training services. That includes IT certification classes to be held in the new location’s computer lab. Those and other classes are designed to prepare kids for the future and help upskill adults who want to segway into another job, Ms. Sparkman said. Then, later in the day, that space will become The Place2Be. That drop-in teen center, which served between 30 and 60 teens every night in its old location, also was the first area to be open to public view. On Tuesday, May 7, it hosted a career development day led by Tri-City Electric Co., based in Davenport.  Sarah Potter, Tri-City’s community relations and workforce development manager, organized the event. “The facility is beautiful and I’m excited too because it feels they’ll be able to provide more services to more people,” she told the QCBJ at the event. “And this space is going to attract a lot more youth and families so I feel like this space will allow them to really be that community partner that this area needs.” The building also includes a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) room that will allow the YWCA to restart a program suspended during the pandemic. “Pre-COVID we had Arconic and John Deere volunteers and board members, too, come in and the kids loved it,” Ms. Larson said.  The YW’s new home also features a well-equipped full-service kitchen with triple the old freezer and refrigerator space. That is allowing the YW to buy food cheaper in bulk and have it delivered, rather than go to the store every day. There’s also plenty of room to create tempting meals for the center’s child care students in the morning and dinner and snacks for The Place2Be teens in the evening.

Kitchen, pool, patio featured

The new building also offers a kitchen with community access which will be important when the YWCA tackles turning the 24,000-square-foot rooftop patio into a space that it can offer for event rentals. Ms. Larson envisions a tiled welcoming rooftop area overlooking the city’s evolving downtown complet with plants and a large gazebo surrounded by a bit of grass. Another beautiful “outdoor” playground area already has been created in the middle of the building. Its four walls feature colorful murals by East Moline’s Atlanta Dawn. The space allows kids (and staff) to enjoy sunshine and fresh air without the danger of wandering away or confronting unwelcome visitors. For rainy days, there’s a beautiful gym where preschoolers and The Place2B participants can play games and let off steam. It’s also where the YWCA’s new and veteran members can participate in such activities as a volleyball league.  There’s also a secure and still easily accessed balcony off a well-equipped weight room for staff and YWCA members. It provides fresh air, a downtown view and a place where members and staff can, perhaps, take a yoga-stretching class. Not surprisingly since the building is a YWCA, there’s a new cardio-room complete with TVs and a large window facing the YWCA’s new 12,000-square-foot zero entry pool. The aquatic center is one of the stars of the new YWCA though it wasn’t ready for a curtain call just  yet.  Ms. Larson said it is “really the only area that they’re still working on and we knew that that was going to lag behind because it’s a very complex pool with a lot of stuff put into the space.”  

New YWCA seeks $600k in donations, new members

As the YWCA of the Quad Cities opens its new $20 million Rock Island location, it’s mounting a final push to raise the last $600,000 needed to reach its goal.  Supporters also are preparing to launch the Rock Island YWCA’s first modern-day membership drive. YW leaders are hoping the new pool, modern weight room, cardio-room, new gym and other amenities will lure Quad Citians to join the downtown YWCA and or make a donation to support the building and services it provides. The organization has raised $19.4 million of the total project’s cost. “In 2021 when we did our groundbreaking ceremony we had raised 100% of the funds – $15.4 million,” YWCA President and CEO Julie Larson said. It wouldn’t be enough  “It was the most volatile time that you could ever build,” she said, as materials costs skyrocketed and critical items became harder to source. Now, she said ”We’re hoping that some people will see the finished product who haven't contributed and will contribute to us because really every program that we have gives back to the community.” Much of that is free of charge, including via scholarship programs for health and fitness.  One of the earliest champions of building the new YWCA in Rock Island was Bill Stengel, president of the Doris & Victor Day Foundation Board. That foundation’s gift planted the seeds for the initial capital campaign launched five years ago, Ms. Larson said. “Speaking for the board, we were confident a new facility would allow the YWCA to continue its presence in the community and especially help meet the need for reliable child care,” Mr. Stengel told the QCBJ. “We also recognized what a big reach it would be to pull all the funding resources together to finance the build.” He added: “Our initial grant was followed by great support from local legislators, Mike Halpin and Neil Anderson. That, in turn, paved the way for the many other major contributions and many smaller personal gifts. The reward is a great building with a staff ready to utilize the building.” The Rock Island Community Foundation also provided two $50,000 three-year grants through the Keith and Rosemary Woodward Charitable Trust. Executive Director Gary Rowe said “One of the most important features of the new YWCA QC is the increase in the number of day care slots offering high-quality, affordable services. These services are vital for working parents and as a source of developmental services for children.” He added: “The new YWCA facility also offers additional space for recreation services for local residents. We also are delighted with this attractive addition to downtown Rock Island.” To help ensure it can continue to provide those critical services the YWCA is urging Quad Citians to follow the example set by the Day Foundation. When Doris Damman Day first shared plans for the new foundation she told a friend, “Rock Island will be a better place,” according to Day Foundation Executive Director Tyla Sherwin-Cole.   “The opportunity to invest in the YWCA was a no-brainer so that they could accommodate more individuals and families, enhance existing programs, improve accessibility, and increase outreach, and that is an investment that helps Rock Island be ‘a better place’,” she added. To help them in that mission, leaders are seeking the community’s help. Naming rights are available. rooms can be sponsored and scholarships for memberships and programs, such as swimming lessons, can be purchased. “It doesn’t matter if it’s $5 or $10,000, every dollar makes a difference and it counts,” Ms. Larson said.  To give, visit the YWCA’s website at ywcaqc.org and click the donate button. Or email Ms. Larson directly at [email protected] or call her at 309-788-3479 ext. 12.