Middletown YMCA has received a $1,060,000 grant for Camp Robbins pool reconstruction and facility overhaul.
The funds were allocated to the YMCA’s Splash Forward initiative under the $63 million second round of the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) that supported 20 other projects, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office on Dec. 29.
In operation since 1882, the YMCA provides programming in the Hudson Valley for adults and children.
The state grant matches the YMCA’s own funds and will support the pool renovations expected to begin in September and end by May 2027, said Adriana Bradley, Development Director, YMCA of Middletown, in an email.
What’s the status of the Camp Robbins pool now?
Camp Robbins in Orange County has served residents in the area for generations, including those bordering Sullivan, Ulster and Dutchess counties.
The pool closed for the season in September 2025 and is undergoing temporary fixes for the last reopening of the original facility during the summer this year, after which the major renovation and preservation will begin.
“Camp Robbins is deeply woven into the history of our community,” Ross Miceli, CEO of the YMCA of Middletown, said in a statement. “Reconstructing the pool ensures that children today, and for generations to come, have a safe and welcoming place to learn lifesaving skills, experience joy, and feel a true sense of belonging.”
What is planned?
The Splash Forward initiative by the Middletown YMCA aims to enhance public access to aquatic programming for communities with limited infrastructure and resources.
Besides updating and modernizing the current pool, the project will replace mechanical systems and construct a new equipment building for enhanced safety and operations.
The YMCA plans an expansion in swimming and water safety lessons, including for individuals with disabilities, and offer lifeguard training for teenagers and young adults.
“Camp Robbins sparked my love for camp and led to my lifelong involvement in summer camp,” said Mary Beth Sullivan, Camp Robbins alumna, in a statement. “My first summers were spent there as a LIT, CIT, counselor, and in leadership roles. I spent six summers at Camp Robbins in the 1980s and grew to love everything about it.”
What is NY SWIMS?
Part of Hochul’s “Unplug and Play,” NY SWIMS has awarded $200 million to 57 municipal and nonprofit projects through two rounds to promote public access to safe swimming and outdoor activities, including $34 million for underserved communities.
The program supports eligible aquatic facility improvement projects through matching capital funds of $250,000 to $10 million.
“NY SWIMS has already shown how transformative safe swimming facilities can be for families and neighborhoods,” Hochul said in a statement. “This next round of awards continues that progress by giving more communities the resources they need to build and improve the pools and aquatic spaces that support health, safety and year-round recreation.”
The initiative is overseen by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY).
Contact reporter Vandana Saras at vsaras@usatodayco.com and @orangecountynyreporter on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Middletown YMCA gets $1 million NY SWIMS grant to upgrade Camp Robbins pool
Reporting by Vandana Saras, Middletown Times Herald- Record / Times Herald-Record
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