CLAYTON — The YMCA has long had a presence in Johnston County.
What it hasn’t had is a building — until now.

Earlier this fall, Flowers Plantation developer Rebecca Flowers donated the community’s Pineville Club fitness center to the YMCA of the Triangle.

“We have been dreaming of a permanent home in Johnston County for more than 25 years,” Bruce Ham, the Y’s chief development officer, said during a celebration in late September. “The gift of this facility makes that
possible.”

The Y has owned land elsewhere in Johnston County for nearly 20 years. “When we purchased the land on Powhatan Road in 2001, we had hopes of building a YMCA facility there,” said Jennifer Nelson, vice president of marketing and communications for the YMCA of the Triangle.

The Y did its homework before saying yes, Nelson said. “Prior to taking ownership, we vetted the property and viability of successfully running a Y at that location,” she said.

But those hopes never came to fruition, and instead, that land has played host to fields for youth sports.

With the gift of the Pineville Club, the Y has a 20,000-square-foot building with three pools and a 10,000- square-foot fitness center.

“The generous gift of the former Pineville Club will provide a significant opportunity to serve the broader community and the families of Johnston County through expanded YMCA health and wellness programs,” Nelson
said.

With the transfer of ownership, the building has a new name — East Triangle YMCA.

“In October, we began renovations to the facility and hope to open in early 2021,” Nelson said.

The Y will offer a variety of membership categories and rates — from young adults to families to seniors, Nelson said. “We look forward to inviting former Pineville Club members and everyone in the community to be a part of
our Y,” she said.

The Flowers community reached out to the Y several months ago about donating the Pineville Club, Nelson said. “The growth in that area of Johnston County made the offer very attractive,” she said.