Old Y In Dover Foxcroft Opens As New Community Center This Week

The Dover-Foxcroft community has reason to celebrate this week, as the recently shuttered Piscataquis Regional YMCA has reopened as something new.

Last October, the news that the Y was closing at the end of the month, sent folks in the Dover-Foxcroft area scrambling to find child care, after-school activities, and a space to take part in fitness and wellness programs.

Read More: Piscataquis Region Reeling At News Their Y Will Close Permanently

The building, which sits at 48 East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft boasts a fitness center, a community center, and a pool. When it closed, people who lived in the area were told by the YMCA's Board of Directors that the Old Town Orono YMCA would honor any memberships folks in Dover held. But for many, that wasn't a feasible option.

So some members of the community got together, and created the idea to use the old facility as the site for a new organization: The Piscataquis Area Community Center, or PACC for short. They negotiated with the Old Town Orono YMCA for the rights to use the building, and were working to get it open when a pipe burst at the beginning of this month, and set their timeline back a bit.

But they didn't let that stop them, and after some repairs were made, the facility officially opened the fitness center and studio again at 9 AM on Monday.

While they still need to repair and improve the pool and community center and set up some programs, this was an important first step on the road back to offering health and wellness to the greater Piscataquis community, something that's been lacking for months since the Y closed.

The current hours of operation at the PACC are Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, but they do hope to transition at some point into a 24-hour access facility.

It's the hope, according to the organization's website, for the facility to become the heart of the region.

"...a place where wellness, education, recreation, and camaraderie are celebrated. By providing access to enriching programs, a welcoming environment, and essential
resources, we aim to foster resilience, build relationships, and empower every member of our community to reach their full potential.

Our commitment extends to being fiscally responsible stewards of our resources, ensuring that every dollar is used effectively to serve the community."

In the future, organizers say they hope the Community Center is a place where folks can hold everything from public gatherings to private birthday parties.