When it first opened in 2004, the then brand new Weinberg Y in Waverly was rightfully hailed as a significant and long-overdue asset in a community that had often times been neglected. The most obvious example of that neglect had been the presence of a hulking, empty ghost of Memorial Stadium, which had last hosted an athletic contest in 1997 (the Baltimore Ravens used the stadium until their new downtown park, now called M&T Bank Stadium, opened). The stadium stood empty, frustrating community members and pretty much everyone until finally an agreement was reached by the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore to demolish it and allow the Y and GEDCO to redevelop the site, now called Stadium Place, with a number of highly desired assets, like a large Y family center, affordable senior housing, and a preschool.
For more on the old stadium and the events leading up to what is found there now, here’s a link to the Memorial Stadium Wikipedia Page.
Fast forward to January 2023, and both the entire site and now the Weinberg Y has been transformed. GEDCO has built an array of affordable and market rate housing, retailers have been added, and Gilchrist has come in with a beautiful hospice care facility. From the Y’s perspective, we’ve worked with the community to add a large public playground, partnered with the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation to open and run a beautiful turf sports field in the middle of the site (with home plate sitting exactly where it was in the old Memorial Stadium), and became the Community Schools partner for Waverly Elementary/Middle School, which sits right across the street.
I think it’s fair to say that Stadium Place is one of the most unique and successful community redevelopment success stories that one can find not only in Baltimore, but across urban America.
And yet, here at the Y, we don’t believe in resting on our proverbial laurels! We’ve worked to continuously improve the Weinberg Y and all of our offerings there and at Stadium Place over the years. In 2017, as part of a larger Y capital campaign for Baltimore City, we embarked on a plan to raise money for a substantial improvement of the Weinberg Y, the construction of a large, standalone Early Childhood Center, and an outdoor pavilion for camp and an array of community programs. I’m pleased to let you know that last month marked the penultimate milestone for this project, the opening of a greatly enlarged, enhanced and impressive fitness floor (just in time for the January membership crush!).
What has turned out to be a roughly $8 million project includes:
- The renovation of the entire first floor and lobby, creating more multi-purpose space, expanding and relocating the Stay & Play, and adding a new Family Room and fireplace (completed in early 2020).
- The opening of the new, standalone Sherman Early Childhood Center, now serving 30% more young children and families than was possible in the previous space (completed and opened in 2022)
- The addition of a large outdoor pavilion, with restrooms (completed and opened in mid-year 2022)
- The expansion of the fitness floor into the former preschool space, enabling a wide range of cardio, strength and functional fitness opportunities, and containing a substantial amount of new equipment (opened in late 2022)
The final phase of the project will include an upgrade of the locker room space. That will start at some point this year and will conclude by year-end.
A project of this magnitude happens only because it’s supported by some incredibly generous and caring donors, local and state elected officials, engaged local community members, the Y’s board and lots of hardworking Y associates. Lead funders include the State of Maryland, the Sherman Family Foundation, the Orokawa Foundation, the Kahlert Foundation, the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the France-Merrick Foundation, the Davis Family Foundation, the Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation, the Henry and Ruth Rosenberg Foundation, Whiting-Turner, T. Rowe Price, the DeCesaris Family Foundation, and so many other generous souls!
And all this started with the closing of a stadium, one with a rich history but which sat in the middle of a residential community in need of so much more. I’d say that Stadium Place and the Y have delivered just that, while we’ve all been able to root for the Ravens and Orioles in great new stadiums downtown. Now there’s a Baltimore success story to start you off on your new year!
All the best,
John K. Hoey
President & CEO
The Y in Central Maryland