GREENVILLE, S.C. (June 8, 2026) – The Caine Halter Family YMCA broke ground today on a major renovation of its youth sports fields and parking lot as part of its $8.5 million “Building a Brighter Tomorrow” capital campaign. The groundbreaking was attended by YMCA staff, volunteers, board members, donors, and community supporters. The project will raise the fields, reposition them to create additional playing space, add drainage to prevent water buildup, and deliver a reconfigured parking lot. These upgrades address two of the branch’s most persistent operational challenges and opens the door for more children to participate in YMCA of Greenville youth sports programs.   

The Caine Halter Family YMCA sports fields have long sat at the lowest elevation point in the surrounding neighborhood, leaving them prone to waterlogging after heavy rain and forcing cancellations. Along with the drainage issue, limited field space has resulted in ongoing waitlists for youth sports programs across fall and spring seasons. The redesigned fields will solve both problems; improved drainage will keep the surfaces playable year-round, and the repositioned layout will accommodate up to six additional youth soccer teams for children ages 3 to 7, the age group with the greatest demand, allowing more than 120 additional boys and girls to join sports programs where they would otherwise not been able to participate.   

“After a heavy rain, water can sit on those fields for up to two weeks, which means two weeks of cancelled practices and postponed games and for our kids who show up ready to play,” said Jamie Johnson, Executive Director of the Caine Halter Family YMCA. “Today, we are fixing that. More than 120 more boys and girls will have the chance to play who would otherwise miss out, and the impact will reach every sport and every age group we serve.” 

The groundbreaking marks another milestone of the “Building a Brighter Tomorrow” capital campaign that has currently raised $6.7 million. Previously, the branch has: 

• Completed the installation of the DynaDome, a state-of-the-art retractable enclosure system over its outdoor pool, which provides year-round access for all, from swim lessons and fitness to water therapy and Special Olympics programs and lifesaving water safety instruction.  

• Completed a full gymnasium refresh, where kids make new friends and work on skill development and provide adults opportunities to stay active and connect.  

• Updated and upgraded the Frank M. Dupree, Jr. Tennis Center into a cutting-edge athletic facility, expanding program offerings, improving ADA accessibility and inclusion, and impacting over 1,000 players each year. The center will be unveiled in the fall of 2026. 

The fields and parking lot renovation is now underway, with a community pavilion planned as the campaign’s next phase. The pavilion will add restrooms, programming and storage space, a picnic area, and a community gathering space designed to serve coaches, youth, families, and the broader neighborhood. 

“Years from now, children and families will still be impacted by what we’re building here today, and that’s something really special,” said Sam Franklin, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greenville. “That’s how strong communities are built: one child, one family, one relationship at a time.” 

The YMCA of Greenville, following the example of Christ, builds healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. The cause-driven, non-profit has served the Upstate community for 150 years. The Cleveland Street YMCA was built in 1960 and renamed in 2008 as the Caine Halter Family YMCA following an extensive renovation honoring Caine Halter, a community leader and philanthropist who died of lung cancer at age 45. Today, the YMCA of Greenville serves more than 85,000 people across its branches and programs.  

To support or learn more about the YMCA of Greenville and Caine Halter Family YMCA, please visit the “Building a Brighter Tomorrow” capital campaign.   

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About the YMCA of Greenville, SC 

The YMCA of Greenville is a cause-driven non-profit organization. Our mission is, following the example of Christ, to build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. With a focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y nurtures the potential of every youth and teen, improves the health and well-being of our community and provides opportunities to give back and help support our neighbors. Founded in 1876, the Y serves more than 85,000 people annually through programs that include after-school care, resident and day camps, aquatics, youth and adult sports, and health and wellness. Programs are offered through four family branches, as well as the Verdae YMCA, Life Center YMCA at Prisma Health, YMCA Camp Greenville, and YMCA Judson Community Center. The Y is also home to Y Teen Services and the SC Youth in Government programs.  For more information about the YMCA of Greenville, visit ymcagreenville.org, or call (864) 412-0288.