A Future-Ready YMCA to Meet the Needs of Virginia’s 2nd Largest City
If you live, work, or play in Greenbrier, you’ve witnessed its remarkable growth. As the main commercial hub for the City of Chesapeake, Greenbrier supports a daily workforce of nearly 50,000 people, and its population has surged more than 325% in a single decade. With its scenic lakes, bustling businesses, and robust shopping and dining opportunities, it’s easy to see why Greenbrier is one of the region’s fastest-growing communities.
The Greenbrier Family YMCA has long been a cornerstone of the community, providing child care, wellness, and a place for people to connect. After thoughtful evaluation, we are strategically reallocating our resources to transform the Greenbrier Family YMCA to meet the needs of the community today and in the future.
Through the sale of the Greenbrier North location and the generosity of donors, we will create a high-performing, welcoming, and accessible YMCA that will serve as a community gathering place where everyone can thrive. Our vision is a reimagined Greenbrier Family YMCA that is visually inspiring and highly functional, that unites people and strengthens the overall quality of life in Chesapeake.
REIMAGINED FOR OUR COMMUNITY
NOTE: Renderings are early concepts and not final designs. Designs are subject to change.
Expanded child care and youth programming
CHILD CARE
The Y is a trusted leader in youth development, preparing children for school and life. Our enriching programs develop lifelong healthy habits, promote academic success, and build character and self-reliance. As kids navigate the early years, we surround them with nurturing role models so they’ll know how to make positive, values-based choices as they learn and grow. Reliable child care is essential for parents and their workplaces, yet many face barriers to access and affordability. Our current facility limits our ability to meet this need. An expanded Greenbrier Family YMCA will increase access, expand capacity, and support more working families.
YOUTH AND TEENS
With new intentional space for youth and teens, the Y will elevate and expand opportunities to engage teens in positive activities, develop career and college readiness, and help build the next successful workforce.
Thoughtfully designed space for connection and belonging
SOCIAL GATHERING HUB
Creating intentional space for connectivity, the Greenbrier Family YMCA will serve as a community hub, fostering relationships among residents and giving newcomers more reason to plant roots.
RECREATION
The Y has always been the place to stay active, connect, and enjoy quality time as a community. The Greenbrier Family YMCA will expand and enhance its indoor recreation spaces to create more opportunities to bring families and friends together through sports like basketball, while improving physical health and reducing stress.
ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS
Our seniors need more than a place to exercise. Y programs help older adults stay active, connected, and involved. An enhanced and accessible Greenbrier Family YMCA will give seniors an inviting gathering place where they are celebrated for their accomplishments and valued for what they’ll do next.
Frequently Asked Questions
This decision was not made lightly, as the center has been a beloved part of the Greenbrier community. However, selling the Greenbrier North YMCA location will allow us to reinvest in the greater Greenbrier community with bold plans to reimagine the Greenbrier Family YMCA. Reallocating these resources will enable us to reach more children and families with transformative experiences in Greenbrier.
The Greenbrier North YMCA will close on May 30.
Your membership includes access to all YMCA of South Hampton Roads locations. For convenience, we encourage you to visit the Greenbrier Family YMCA, which is just over 2 miles from the Greenbrier North location.
- The Greenbrier North location is scheduled to close on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
- Members are encouraged to continue using the Greenbrier Family YMCA and our other 20 YMCA of South Hampton Roads locations.
- Current Greenbrier North YMCA members* may register for 24-hour access at no cost to be used for the remainder of 2026. This pass provides after-hours access to 18 YMCA of South Hampton Roads locations. To add this to your membership, you may register online or in person at the Y by 12/31/2026 and your discount will automatically apply.
- Current Greenbrier North YMCA members* may also register for a free parking pass to the Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA, which offers racquetball. We are working to refresh and renew racquetball courts at the Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA to accommodate additional member use. To add garage parking to your membership, stop by the Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA by 12/31/2026. Your discount will automatically apply.
*Active members whose home location is Greenbrier North YMCA, who have been using the Greenbrier North YMCA regularly in the last six months or who have made racquetball reservations in the last six months.
No.
No staff positions will be eliminated as a result of this sale. Our wonderful Greenbrier North team will transition to locations within our YMCA of South Hampton Roads network. Updated schedules will be shared so you can stay connected to the programs and people you value.
Most of the proceeds will fund renovations and improvements at the Greenbrier Family YMCA. Some funds may be allocated across our association to address any critical needs.
Updates will be shared through email, our website, and at the Greenbrier North and Greenbrier Family YMCA locations.
By reallocating resources and investing in property and facility improvements across our service area, we can serve more children, families, and individuals with high-quality programs and services that meet the needs of our growing community.
No, this decision reflects our commitment to sustainability and proactive strategic planning. We are ensuring our resources are used effectively to maximize our impact.
We do not have plans to add racquetball at the Greenbrier Family YMCA.
We understand that members of our racquetball community may be frustrated and disappointed about the decision to no longer offer racquetball in Greenbrier. We understand why. For years, those courts have been a source of wellness, community, competition, stress relief, and friendship. Decisions like this are never made lightly, and we have done our best to keep racquetball going for as long as we could.
The YMCA of South Hampton Roads currently has racquetball courts at the following location:
- Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA
- YMCA of Portsmouth
- Outer Banks Family YMCA
- James L. Camp Family YMCA (Franklin, VA)
- YMCA of South Boston/Halifax (South Boston, VA)
The reality is that racquetball participation has declined significantly over the past two decades, dropping nationally by more than 50% since its peak in the 1990s. What we are seeing locally reflects that trend, with more hours going unused. Meanwhile, demand for other racquet and paddle sports has surged across all age groups, especially pickleball.
Racquetball courts are also highly specialized spaces. Ongoing upkeep of flooring, wall repair, lighting, HVAC, and safety compliance adds significant annual expense. Those dollars are serving a small portion of the membership while limiting our ability to invest in programs that reach many more. As a nonprofit, we must evaluate space based on mission impact and community demand.
We know this doesn’t erase the disappointment for our racquetball players.
Therefore, we are offering current Greenbrier North YMCA members* free parking in the Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA garage. We are working to refresh and renew racquetball the courts at the Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA to accommodate additional member use.
To add garage parking to your membership, stop by the Blocker Norfolk Family YMCA by 12/31/2026. Your discount will automatically apply.
We welcome constructive conversations about how we can continue to engage you, whether through emerging racquet or paddle sports or other competitive programming.
*Active members whose home location is Greenbrier North YMCA, who have been using the Greenbrier North YMCA regularly in the last six months or who have made racquetball reservations in the last six months.
The sale of the Greenbrier North location is final.
All fitness, sports and office equipment will be repurposed at other YMCA locations. Equipment will not be made available for sale.
The YMCA’s decision to sell the Greenbrier North property is part of a broader strategy to reinvest in our communities and ensure our facilities, programs, and services are positioned to meet the evolving needs of the people we serve. The funds from this sale, and any future changes, will allow us to:
- Create Vibrant Community Spaces
We are committed to building facilities that foster a sense of belonging for everyone. This includes creating spaces where families can bond, teens can connect and grow, and seniors can stay active and engaged. These investments will ensure our Ys continue to be inspiring, welcoming hubs for the entire community. - Modernize Aging Infrastructure
Many of our facilities require updates to improve functionality and efficiency. We plan to renovate areas such as locker rooms, fitness centers, and group exercise studios to provide high-quality, environmentally friendly spaces that better serve our members and communities. - Enhance Capacity and Reach
Currently serving nearly 250,000 people annually, we aim to expand our impact by improving services and increasing access for even more families and individuals. These decisions will ensure that we continue to grow as a direct reflection of our communities’ growth. - Develop Inspiring Child Care and Learning Centers
Our goal is to create functional and inspiring environments for children to develop. These investments will support working families by providing safe, engaging spaces for children to learn, play, and thrive. - Improve Accessibility for All
We are dedicated to making our facilities more inclusive and accessible for older adults and individuals with diverse abilities. This includes thoughtful updates that prioritize usability and inclusivity across our locations.
By reallocating resources and reinvesting in these critical areas, the YMCA hopes to position itself not only to sustain but also to grow its impact in the years to come. These decisions are guided by our mission to strengthen communities and ensure that everyone has access to the opportunities and support they need to thrive.