All-Season Aquatic Facility Breaks Ground at Northumberland Family YMCA
GuernseyTingle was proud to join the Northumberland Family YMCA and its community partners in celebrating the groundbreaking of a state-of-the-art pool enclosure that will dramatically expand access to year-round aquatic programming in Heathsville, Virginia.
This transformative project reflects the YMCA’s mission to serve everyone in the community, regardless of season or circumstance. At the heart of the project is the installation of a DynaDome retractable enclosure, the first of its kind to be commercially installed in Virginia. Once complete, this innovative structure will convert the YMCA’s existing outdoor pool into a year-round amenity, making swimming lessons, aquatic fitness classes, and recreational activities accessible no matter the weather.
The impact of this project will be far-reaching:
· The YMCA has already provided free swim lessons to 1,949 second-grade students from Northumberland and Richmond Counties since 2012.
· With this enclosure, aquatic group exercise classes are projected to increase from 36 to 156 classes annually, growing participation from 288 to an estimated 1,248 community members per year.
· The facility will also feature a new pool slide, adding to its appeal as a destination for families.
With 599 miles of shoreline in Northumberland County, water safety is critical—especially for children. Drowning remains the second leading cause of unintentional death for youth ages 5–14. By expanding swim instruction and water safety education, this project directly addresses a pressing community need.
The Northumberland Family YMCA has also expressed aspirations to support a year-round high school swim team, creating more opportunities for youth athletics and team building.
Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2025, at which point the pool will officially shift to year-round operation.
GuernseyTingle is honored to be part of this meaningful project. We bring to it our extensive aquatics experience, having helped design facilities such as the award-winning Hampton Virginia Aquaplex, the largest facility of its kind in the state.
We’re excited to see how this innovative facility will make waves in the Northern Neck community for years to come. Stay tuned as the DynaDome rises and a new era of aquatics begins in Northumberland County.