Crawford County Celebrates Opening of New, $18M Wellness Center
June 16, 2026
A multi-purpose gym, upper level walking/running track, state of the art fitness equipment… When the doors to the highly anticipated Crawford County YMCA Wellness Center swung open in early April 2026, over 100 people eagerly attended the ribbon cutting ceremony.
It was hard to imagine what could have possibly made the $18 million, 71,300 sq. ft. facility even better. Until 145 new membership applications poured in during the opening celebration; folks eager to check out the indoor turf fields, and basketball, pickleball, and volleyball courts.
“Since the ribbon cutting we have seen tremendous support and positive comments from several individuals about the versatility of the facility. We believe that people who have had an opportunity to see the facility are excited about the opportunities that will be available in the future,” said City of Denison City Manager Jessica Garcia.
It Takes a Village: From Concept to Grand Opening
The first of its kind for Crawford County, getting the Wellness Center from concept to grand opening required an “all in” effort by community members, leaders, and business owners that began in late 2020.
“The meetings started with a group of about 6 individuals and started blossoming from there. Our grand opening took place on April 13th with opening to Charter members on April 20th, 2026. Individuals who did not complete the early access charter membership gained access to the facility on May 1st,” said Garcia.
By January 2024, the project was already 80% funded thanks to a boost from donations, ARPA funds, grants, and local government support. That included a $4.5 million Destination Iowa Grant designed to give economic growth a boost as well as attract tourism to the county.
Giving Western Iowa Residents Access to Better Health… 24/7
The state-of-the-art facility is also hoped to inspire a healthier community.
Historically, Crawford County has faced some health hurdles, ranking for high-risk conditions like chronic disease, obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Combined with a growing population of older adults, as well as poverty and uninsured rates that are among the highest in the state, maintaining good health among residents has proved challenging.
“There are honestly so many things to list here, however, the main resounding point is that we want individuals from Crawford County (and surrounding areas) to feel that this is a family-centric environment. It is a place they can choose to go to interact with their family and other members of the community in a safe, fun environment. Crawford County has one of the highest obesity rates in the state of Iowa and our hope is that this facility will help people get active and see impactful changes in their health and wellness,” said Garcia.
Even better? Folks can work out on their own schedule thanks to a 24/7 access add-on that allows eligible members to work up a sweat anytime they want.
Memberships, which vary in price, come with no annual contracts, nationwide YMCA reciprocity, and give you unlimited access to a variety of group exercise classes. Memberships also includes access to the nearby Denison Aquatic Center and its 6-lane Olympic short-course pool and kiddie splash pool.
