From left: YMCA CEO Andrea Allard takes a swing with a sledgehammer on demo day. The 50-year-old bathhouse is now gone to make way for a new bathhouse, office and welcome center attached by a covered pavilion.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
WESTFIELD — The YMCA of Greater Westfield has officially begun construction of a new welcome center, pavilion, and bathhouse at its 155-acre Camp Shepard, including the demolition of its 50-year-old bathhouse.
Program Operations Director Melissa Whitney said the bathhouse, which dates from the 1970s, came down on Oct. 22, uncovering many different layers of paint in the process. A former camper herself, Whitney said the staff was surprised at how small the building was after it was taken down.
“What we were able to do with our campers over the last 50 years has been pretty remarkable, when you look at the footprint,” Whitney said.
The bathhouse will be replaced by a new two-building structure: a new bathhouse, an office and welcome center, and a covered pavilion connecting the two buildings. The new facilities will allow Camp Shepard to serve more children each day and open the camp to the community year-round, as planned.
Camp Shepard serves 870 campers each summer, up to 215 a day. When the project is complete, the camp will serve 300 children daily, with community access in the off-season. The new buildings are scheduled to open for the 2027 camp season.
The YMCA also announced a $155,000 gift from TruNorth Bank, based in Easthampton and formerly BankESB. “This incredible support allows us to expand Camp Shepard for children, individuals, families, and the community, creating a positive impact for generations to come,” said YMCA Chief Executive Officer Andrea Allard, also a former camper.
The TruNorth Foundation has committed $155,000 to the Camp Shepard campaign, joining Westfield Bank and Westfield’s Community Preservation Act funds as a lead supporter. The campaign has now raised more than $1 million toward its $3 million goal.
“Camp Shepard has been creating life-changing experiences for children and families in our community for generations. This investment is about more than new buildings. It’s about expanding opportunities for more young people to learn, grow, build confidence, and create lifelong memories in a safe and welcoming environment,” said Matthew Sosik, CEO of TruNorth Bank. “We are proud to support the YMCA’s vision for the future of Camp Shepard and the positive impact it will have on our region for years to come.”
Whitney said Camp Shepard posted photos of the bathhouse demolition on its Facebook page for the enjoyment of all its campers, past and present.
