EAST LIVERPOOL — The Ohio Valley YMCA, which has locations in East Liverpool, Calcutta and Steubenville, has received a $2.6 million grant for the transformation of the Beaver Creek Presbyterian Church Camp located along Beaver Creek into a premier community recreation and tourism destination.

The YMCA acquired the property in March 2017 through a donation from the Presbyterian Churches in the Upper Ohio Valley with the agreement that the YMCA take ownership of the property and maintain it but will have a partnership with the Presbyterian churches to allow them to continue use of the property as a church camp.

The $2.6 million grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)’s Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program is half of the $5 million that the YMCA needs to transform the 100 acres of property on Duke Vodrey Road into the Outdoor YMCA for youth day camps, residential overnight camps, outdoor swimming pool, waterfront access for kayaking and fishing, gathering spaces for community events, walking/hiking trails and camping facilities and accommodations.

According to Sierra Estell, executive director, Ohio Valley YMCA, the location will not only be available to paying YMCA members but also for non-members for who will need to pay rental fees to use the facility.

“We are extremely grateful for this opportunity. This investment will allow us to revitalize a historic site, improve infrastructure, and create new opportunities for outdoor activities that benefit the entire region,” said Estell. “With a focus on community health, economic growth, and environmental stewardship, the Outdoor YMCA will provide a unique space for recreation, education, and wellness.”

The transformation will take in three phases: renovations and mine land reclamation, new construction and Infrastructure, and Recreation Tourism Enhancements, with the first phase expected to begin late spring or summer. While it doesn’t mean the project will take three years to complete, it does have to be completed within that time frame per the terms of the grant.

Estell will be attending a meeting this week where everyone who is receiving these grants will go over the logistics of the grant which is federal funding and has certain requirements. After the meeting, Estell will have a little better timeline for the project.

The first step will be an environmental assessment/analysis to be sure that the work to be done will not disturb the existing natural environment, Estell said.

Plans for the transformation include updating the existing lodge with a fully renovated commercial grade kitchen, with a large open space in the lodge to be used for events or as meeting space, according to Estell. Hiking trails will be made more accessible and usable, with additional trails being cut. There will be additional cabins added to increase the number already there and there will also be space for tent camping. The swimming is already in existence and in good shape and not requiring too much work.

“This initiative will address long-standing economic and environmental challenges stemming from the site’s coal mining history. Project plans were developed using key findings from community assessments and public health studies,” Estell said.

The area where the property is located was once used for mining and has nine abandoned nines at the location. The first step would be to reclaim those, some of which have caved in and some for which the entrances are still open. The YMCA will work with the AMLER group to secure the mines, making sure no one can get in or out of them, and also make sure there is no acid or water drain coming from them.

Estell noted that one of mines still open has water running from it onto the main access road, resulting in a lot of erosion, so work will be done to prevent water runoff from affecting the road. She also noted that there used to be a second entrance, and this work will allow that to be reopened.

“The Outdoor YMCA will be a lasting investment in the region’s well-being, ensuring inclusive access to recreation, educational opportunities, and sustainable economic growth,” Estell said. “The Outdoor YMCA will provide far-reaching benefits, including job creation, economic boost, increased tourism, and support for local businesses.

With a high poverty rate in the area and there not being any camping or recreation sites like the one planned, Estell said she believes this has the potential to draw in a lot of tourism, which could mean a boost to the economy through increased spending of tourism dollars, not just at the YMCA but at local businesses and other local campsites.

A lot of people that camp go from campsite to campsite so it will encourage them to come this direction and spend some of their money here to boost our local economy, Estell said. It will also be creating long-term job opportunities. There will be an estimated 20 short-term job openings with the construction and then an estimated 60 long-term job openings.

Work will be done with as many local workers as possible.

With the grant only covering half the project costs, the YMCA is looking at fundraising, such as other grants, community donations and a capital campaign, to raise the remaining fund’s needs.

Estell said there have been two recently submitted grant applications that they are waiting to hear about and one more grant application will be submitted later this month. She also noted that a couple of local foundations have shown an interest in donating.

“We are very excited to have this opportunity to show off something new to our community and we hope that everyone will be as excited as we are to see this come to fruition,” Estell said.

Estell noted that with the YMCA being a non-profit organization, it relies on the support of the community to keep the doors open and cost low so everybody can have access to the same programs and facilities, so anytime people are willing to help out with fundraising is a huge help for organization.

Anyone interested in donating can visit www.outdoorymca.funraise.org or contact Estell.

For information about the Outdoor YMCA or to learn how to get involved, contact Estell at 330-598-0478 or sestell@ovymca.org.

kgarabrandt@mojonews.com