The Waushara Community YMCA plans to open at 209 S. St. Marie St. in Wautoma sometime in November 2026. Its pool will open the same day as the rest of the building. Construction and fundraising settled when the pool could open. Hiring will settle how many hours it stays open. The Y's own pool FAQ says every aquatic program needs one or two lifeguards on duty, plus the instructor. Full open swim with the water feature running needs two lifeguards. "Our hours will depend greatly on staffing," the FAQ says, and the schedule will start limited and grow from there.
So the most useful thing to know about Wautoma's first indoor community pool this winter is who will be working the deck.
How the old courthouse lot got here
The lot has been a civic site for close to a century. The courthouse that stood at 209 St. Marie Street went up in 1928 and 1929, after the courthouse before it burned in the spring of 1928. A historic survey describes it as a monumental Neoclassical landmark, with a 1908 jail and residence on the same grounds. Here is how it became a YMCA:
- May 7, 2024. County offices moved out of the courthouse and the North Annex to the new Waushara County Government Center at 380 S. Townline Road.
- June 25, 2024. The county held the Government Center's grand opening.
- Late April or early May 2025. The courthouse came down. On May 8, 2025, the Waushara Argus reported it had been demolished "last week."
- June 2025. The County Board passed resolutions to sell the former courthouse complex to the Stevens Point Area YMCA and to donate to the project.
- June 24, 2025. The YMCA held its groundbreaking on the former courthouse site.
The opening date has moved once already. In November 2024, the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin projected a grand opening in late summer 2026. On Aug. 26, 2026, the Argus reported that construction should wrap up at the end of October, with a grand opening in early November. The Y said an official date would follow. The Y's September update still has no exact date. It says one will be announced as construction and licensing milestones are finalized.
The pool was supposed to come later
For most of the project, the pool was a separate effort. The Y's original FAQ split the work into two phases. Phase One was a $10 million main building with child care, a wellness center, group exercise space, an elevated walking track over basketball courts, and a community gathering space. Phase Two was a pool with zero-depth entry and a recreation area, estimated at $7 million plus a $1 million endowment for ongoing pool costs. In December 2024, Friends of the Waushara Community YMCA launched the Splash It Forward campaign, which aimed to raise $4.5 million by Jan. 21, 2025.
That split is gone. By late August 2026, the campaign goal was $16.5 million, and nearly all of it was secured. The Argus reported that donors had let the Y build "the full vision for the facility, including the ability to build the community's new aquatic center." About $200,000 was left to raise. The September update says the pool "will be fully completed and open at the same time as the rest of the facility."
With the money and the concrete settled, the pool's first winter comes down to people.
Two lanes and a lifeguard count
The aquatic center is about 7,000 square feet. The Y's pool FAQ is open about its size. It says lap swimming and water walking will share two lanes, and members may need to circle swim at busy times. The Y hopes to offer early-morning, midday, and evening times for laps and water walking, and to adjust as it learns what the community needs.
Each of those time blocks needs a lifeguard on duty. Classes need an instructor too. That's why the same FAQ ties the whole schedule to staffing and asks the community to help by spreading the word or applying.
The Y has made applying easier than many people expect. It will provide shallow-water lifeguard certification. Water Ex and swim instructors only need CPR/AED/First Aid, and the Y will provide that training within 60 days of hire. The Aug. 26 hiring notice listed these openings, full-time and part-time:
- Aquatic Center staff, including lifeguards and swim instructors
- Child Care Center staff
- Member Services staff
- Wellness Center staff
- Fitness Instructors
Applications go through spymca.org/jobs.
Some pool programs are already set for the first day. The Y plans to start Water Ex classes, its name for water aerobics, as soon as the pool opens. It also plans adaptive Water Ex classes and sensory-friendly swim times, run by an adaptive recreation coordinator on staff. Lap and recreational swimming and children's swim lessons are on the list too. The Y's materials don't give a lesson schedule. A community survey about pool programs is "coming soon." Aquatics Director Sara Kirwan is the contact at [email protected].
Until the Y's pool hours fill in, Berlin Area School District's Miller Natatorium remains a nearby option. It offers lap swim, family open swim, lessons, and water exercise.
The rest of the building doesn't wait on lifeguards
Most of the building doesn't need a lifeguard to open. The branch page lists a lobby and gathering spaces, a full-size gym, an elevated walking track, group fitness studios, community event space, and child care.
Members who want the wellness center at any hour can buy 24/7 access. It needs a key fob that costs $5 a month plus a one-time $20 fee. College memberships include 24/7 access at no extra charge.
The child care center will be licensed for up to 50 children, ages 6 weeks and up, and will accept Wisconsin Shares subsidy funds. Enrollment details aren't out yet. Carrie Govek takes requests to join the notification list at [email protected].
The Wautoma building is a satellite of the Stevens Point Area YMCA and is led by the same CEO, Ryan Zietlow. The Y's earlier project FAQ said members of each facility could use the other.
The charter window opens this month
The Y's September update says membership sign-up opens in mid-to-late October 2026. Anyone who joins as a charter member during that window gets "special perks." The update doesn't describe the perks. In August, the Argus reported that dates, times, and locations for charter events would be announced soon, and the Y pointed people to its website and social media pages for details.
These are the standard rates posted on the Waushara branch page. They don't include any charter offer.
| Membership | Monthly | Annual | Joiner fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth, high school and younger | $24 | $288 | None |
| Double Youth | $48 | $576 | None |
| College | $36 | $432 | None |
| Young Adult, 18–24 | $36 | $432 | $25 |
| Adult, 25–59 | $49 | $588 | $55 |
| Double Adult, same household | $67 | $804 | $55 |
| Single Parent Household | $56 | $672 | $45 |
| Household | $70 | $840 | $55 |
| Senior Adult, 60+ | $46 | $552 | $45 |
| Senior Household | $64 | $768 | $45 |
The Y lists several ways to lower that cost. Its Y for All program sets rates on a sliding scale by household income. Families enrolled in Wisconsin's Children's Long-Term Support program, or individuals in IRIS, can put those funds toward membership. Many Medicare Advantage plans cover a YMCA membership, and the Y suggests members check with their plan provider. Local employers can also sponsor memberships for their staff.
The Y says property taxes won't change because of the project. The money came from private donations and grants. Questions go to the branch at 920-647-9623.
A new community building on St. Marie Street changes what a winter week in Wautoma can include, and our team follows changes like this one as closely as you do. If you'd like to talk about how the Y and other new spots around town fit your plans in Waushara County, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Special Properties is glad to help. Get the Special Advantage. Talk with our team today.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
