YARD Campus proposes pool, fitness facility, academic programs and more to Yelm City Council

Youth Athletics Recreational Development (YARD) Campus has a vision of creating a hub for life skills, athletic competition, swimming and more.

The organization presented this concept to the Yelm City Council during a study session on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Dustin Stephan, president of YARD Campus, detailed the nonprofit’s concept in front of the entire Yelm City Council, Mayor Joe DePinto and others. He noted the organization has recently adopted the name change of “YARD Campus” after previously donning the name “YARD Inc.” Additionally, he told the council his organization is a nonprofit.

“Our vision is to establish YARD as a hub of empowerment and connection — a campus where youth and families come together to learn, play, grow and lead,” Stephan said. “By creating a scalable model of comprehensive resources, we aim to inspire thriving communities across the region while fostering a legacy of transformation, collaboration and excellence that transcends generations.”

Stephan highlighted several options for YARD Campus, including developing several buildings in empty space on Algiers Road Southeast — which would include several upgrades to the road in order for it to reopen. Stephan also said YARD Campus could expand into pre-existing buildings in the Tahoma Industrial Plaza, which already houses businesses such as CrossFit Yelm, Yelm Gymnastics Center, the Nisqually Valley News and more.

“We already have an (memorandum of understanding) in place with the property owners,” Stephan claimed. “It’s still based on feasibility, but ultimately they’re saying ‘yeah, let’s make this happen.’ They’re open to a condo-type agreement with the city if that’s something the council would explore.”

Each building in the plaza was assigned a letter in Stephan’s presentation, and he explained what purpose each building would serve if YARD Campus expands into the pre-existing locations.

Building A, which would cost roughly $3.68 million to renovate, would be used as a tutoring center and include early child development programs and life skills classes. Building B, which would cost roughly $3.15 million to renovate, would house indoor batting cages, spaces and gymnasiums for baseball, softball, soccer and football teams to utilize.
Building C, which would cost roughly $8.68 million to renovate, would include an indoor recreational swimming pool at an estimated 40-by-75-foot measurement. It would also include locker rooms and showers.

Building D, which would cost an estimated $3.68 million to renovate, would include a weight room, a cardio center, yoga space, a spin room, a recovery center — including ice baths, a sauna and massage therapy — along with a locker room and a shower.

The fifth and final building of the YARD Campus, Building E, would cost an estimated $2.45 million to renovate and would include a teen center, a cafe, an arcade and several community outreach programs.

The subtotal cost for this plan is $19.64 million, but Stephan noted that the 15% overage total adds an extra $2.85 million to the project, bringing the total remodel cost up to $22.59 million.

“That’s the vision. Each building would house a certain aspect or division of the campus,” Stephan said. “Particularly, I think building C with the pool and building E with the teen center, arcade and community outreach programs, are specific interests to the community as a whole.”

He added that base expenses, including labor, power, water, maintenance, campus management, professional services, cleaning services and rent, would cost roughly $246,349 to maintain.

YARD Campus, according to Stephan, would seek $2 million in funding from local philanthropy, $4 million from regional foundations, $3 million from state funding, $7 million from foundational grants, and $6 million in cash flow and fundraising events. With those estimates, Stephan was able to generate a predicted $22 million in funding.

Stephan also proposed a membership structure, which included family membership of $99 per month, and single person membership of $69 per month. Both memberships would include full access to facilities. Speciality classes and training would be offered at additional fees based on the type of service.

Additionally, Stephan said there’d be low income options available in the form of a vetted scholarship process. Based on the City of Yelm’s participation in funding and creation of YARD Campus, Stephan would also like to offer reduced cost memberships for Yelm city residents.

“Ultimately, we’re trying to keep this as reasonable as possible … From the get-go, Michelle and I have said we’re not going to turn anyone away because of a lack of funds. With the low income option, there’s a scholarship form built in. Reduced cost membership for Yelm residents, depending on the amount of buy-in and city support we get financially,” Stephan said. “We’re trying to build a central hub where everyone can go. We get on social media — no one really knows how to access NBYB, Prairie Soccer or Yelm Basketball League. We want to be that hub where people can go for that information.

“I think the cheaper option is to slowly and strategically phase these buildings into the vision of this campus,” he added.
What is YARD Campus’s ask from the City of Yelm? Stephan stated he’d like to see open public and outward support from the mayor and city official on the project. Additionally, he’d like the opportunity to present at a city council meeting for further public support. Stephan said YARD Campus would also seek help with permitting, sidewalks and beautification expenses or enterprise funds.

He hopes to accomplish the creation of YARD Campus without raising taxes. The nonprofit would continue to run events at no cost for city residents and include designated hours for free swims and open plays. After 10 years of operation, the organization would provide 20% of net profits to the City of Yelm’s Parks and Recreation department as an annual donation.

Stephan also laid out several goals, including a one-year goal, a three-year goal, a five-year goal and a 10-year goal.
• One-year goal: Initial phase of building repurposing, gather community support and secure funding, MOUs with local partners
• Three-year goal: Aquatics center is complete with “valuable community partnerships in place”
• Five-year goal: YARD Campus Yelm and all of its programs are fully operational and functioning
• 10-year goal: YARD Campus Yelm is completely sustained and fully operational

“YARD Campus is designed to be just that — a campus. The idea is to have all these things listed in a walkable vicinity for our community,” Stephan said. “Our kids need a place to go and hangout. I know first hand that McDonald’s gets tired, and that PD goes there a lot to get kids out of there. We need a place that’s supervised properly — where kids can go out and be social.”