By Regina Elling / Point Loma – OB Monthly SD Union-Tribune / April 10, 2025
Whether by providing child care, youth and family services, resources for food and housing assistance and more, the T. Claude and Gladys B. Ryan Family YMCA in Point Loma has served a lot of people in its 55 years, “and we want to continue to serve for … generations to come,” according to Executive Director Jonathon Collopy.
That’s why the Ryan Family YMCA — previously known as the Peninsula Family YMCA — hopes for a new building to replace its current one at 4390 Valeta St., near Correia Middle School and Bill Cleator Park.
“The impetus is to modernize, update and expand the 55-year-old building so we can continue to meet the demands of today and those moving forward,” Collopy said.
With input and commitments from the community, a new facility could be built in about 2½ years, he said.
The quest for a new building follows last year’s opening of the Rady Children’s Field, a sports field with “all the advantages to serve youth,” Collopy said.
“Our soccer arena was 35-plus years old, but it got great use and had wonderful assets,” he said. “With the local Optimist Club, [the San Diego Seals] pro lacrosse team and Rady [Children’s Hospital], we were able to combine our allied interests and we held our grand opening in March a year ago.”
The new field serves as a practice facility for the Seals and a site for summer camps and YMCA members at large.
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