By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The new Boone County YMCA is taking shape in Boone Woods Park.

Workers began building the YMCA in July and expect to finish by late April or early May, said Kathy Groob, spokeswoman for Paul Hemmer Cos., which is building the YMCA.

The new $7.5 million YMCA will replace the Tri-City YMCA in Florence, which opened in 1967. That facility was sold to Boone County last year. The new, 46,000-square-foot Y will include an outdoor pool featuring a 15-foot slide and a "spray ground" - with water fountains for kids to play in.

The YMCA's 11-acre site in Boone Woods is county-owned land that will be leased to the Y for $1.

Under an agreement with the county, the outdoor water-park-like pool will be open to the public. The county is paying $500,000 for the YMCA to enlarge the pool to accommodate residents.

Boone County residents will be able to buy one-day passes to the pool. Prices have not yet been set.

The Y will have two pools, a gymnasium, a health and fitness complex, an aerobics studio and spaces for public gatherings. It will be able to accommodate about 2,500 families.

Boone County bought the Tri-City YMCA and Union Swim Club from the YMCA last year for $2.5 million.

That left the YMCA needing to raise $5.3 million for the new building. The agency is still trying to reach that goal, said YMCA of Greater Cincinnati spokeswoman Barbara Hauser. To donate call (513) 362-9622.

E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com