Groundbreaking for new Y in Branford

Branford (WTNH) - A formal groundbreaking ceremony was held today for a long awaited and much needed new YMCA facility on the shoreline.

Branford and the surrounding towns have been waiting, some say, 40 years for a place to play and exercise. The Soundview Family YMCA will have two pools, a gym, and a teen center. It will be 35,000 square feet and they hope to open next summer.

"When other projects have stopped because of the economy or the recession we've been in for two years, we've gone out and raised $8.3 million and our project, as you can see behind us is already underway," said Douglas Shaw, YMCA Executive Director.

The Y will serve five towns; Branford, East Haven, Guilford, Madison and North Branford.

It's not just a place to exercise and hang out, it's also going to be a green building with alternative energy sources and high performance mechanical systems.

The Soundview Family YMCA already exists, it just doesn't have its own building. There are programs - swimming lessons at CT Hospice, pee-wee soccer at a local school, but soon it will all be under one roof.