Our Y Story

Our Story: How the Lakota Family YMCA Came to Life

In the late 1980s, long before Liberty Township looked the way it does today, a small group of neighbors gathered at the old library on Tylersville Road. At the time, Lakota had just four elementary schools, and families were searching for a place to work out, play, and come together as a community.

Among that passionate group were John Schaller (who would become the first CEO and founder of the Lakota Family YMCA), Dick Fettering, Steve Favor, Rob Lyons, Greg Amend, and Kay Rogers. They explored every option—from a Jewish community center to a township recreation center—but ultimately decided that a YMCA would offer the greatest impact for local families.

Building a Y… Without a Building

There was just one challenge: funding.

To receive a charter from YMCA of the USA, they needed $300,000 in the bank—enough money to operate for three years without a facility.

While raising those funds, the YMCA opened makeshift operations in an open warehouse behind Ace Hardware on Tylersville Road. The “office” was an old farmhouse on Route 747, where snow sometimes drifted inside during winter. Staff like Juanita Trafficant kept things running while early programs—like aerobics classes and Sue Proctor’s beloved children’s programs (Look at Me, I’m 3!, Mom & Me, and more)—began shaping the Y’s future.

Even without a building, the Y served families. Camp Arrowhead ran out of picnic shelters at Keehner Park, using Hopewell Elementary’s gym on rainy days. Y Winners basketball used the courts at Hopewell Junior and Union Elementary—at a time when the YMCA offered the only youth basketball program in the area.

Finding a Home

The first planned location for the YMCA was on Route 747, thanks to a donated green space from Mr. Adams. But financial challenges forced the team to change plans.

Then came a game-changing donation from longtime supporters Greg Amend and Carlos Todd: a piece of land on Yankee Road—originally intended to become a strip mall with a UDF and gas station. Instead, it became the perfect spot for the Lakota Family YMCA.

While YMCA of the USA recommends 10–12 acres for suburban Ys, the original property was just six acres. The Y used the field behind the building for youth sports until additional land bordering Dutchland Woods later became available for purchase.

Opening Night on Yankee Road

When the first phase of the building was completed—with a basketball court, locker rooms, and an aerobics room (now the family locker room)—the Lakota Family YMCA held a grand opening celebration on Halloween night of 1991. The turnout was huge, confirming what the founders had believed all along: the community was ready for its YMCA.

Soon, Saturday Y Winners basketball packed the gym from 8 AM to 3 PM, and the bleachers were full once again. Parent volunteers helped as coaches and referees.

Growing With the Community

Childcare quickly became one of the greatest needs. Camp Arrowhead grew from 40 kids to what is now around 240 each summer. When Lakota Local Schools superintendent Kathy Klink came seeking before- and after-school care, the YMCA partnered to launch programs at Hopewell and Liberty Elementary—eventually expanding to every Lakota elementary school.

Membership was slow at first, especially with comparisons to the Countryside YMCA in Lebanon, which was an anomaly because it was independently owned and also the largest YMCA in the United States until very recently. Liberty Township was mostly farmland then, and community priorities were still evolving. Surveys consistently told the same story: families wanted a pool.

Building a pool was a major investment, but once it opened, everything clicked. Membership grew, programs expanded, and the YMCA became a true gathering place.

The Y also purchased land in the Union Centre area for potential future development as the community continued to grow.

Mentors, Believers, and Community Roots

John Schaller credits much of his inspiration to his mentor, Jim Hoffman, founder and original CEO of Countryside YMCA. Jim shared stories from their early days—like having such a large building that they couldn’t afford to turn on all the lights, or only opening the gym every other day. His message to John was simple: be patient, and the community will come.

John also speaks with deep gratitude about longtime supporter Greg Amend, whose optimism and generosity helped shape the Y into what it is today.

A Legacy That Lives On

After decades of serving local families, John often sees the children who once played in Y programs now returning as parents themselves. He feels a profound sense of pride every time he drives by and sees a full parking lot. To him, it means the YMCA is doing exactly what it was built for—helping people play, learn, grow, and connect.

What was once farmland and open space has become a true community center, surrounded by parks, neighborhoods, and even a brand-new library across the street. John calls this a sign that the YMCA was built in exactly the right place.

Today, CEO Joe Ayers continues the mission—carrying the torch and looking toward the future to ensure the YMCA keeps evolving to meet the needs of our growing community. Joe expresses deep gratitude to John for his mentorship and the foundation he built.

Today and Tomorrow

From a meeting in an old library…

To a warehouse behind Ace Hardware…

To a bustling facility serving thousands each year…

The Lakota Family YMCA stands as a testament to vision, community support, persistence, and heart.

And our story is still being written.

Before the building… before the programs… there was just a vision.

Former CEO John Schaller shares the powerful story of how the Lakota YMCA began—from humble beginnings to a place that now brings generations together.

Listen to the full story on our Spotify channel!

https://open.spotify.com/show/45HrUKeV7D9Xlw7aoX7VSj?si=10923efa74cd43e4