YMCA to open regional facility at SayeBrook

The Jackson Companies and the YMCA of Coastal Carolina have entered into an agreement to bring a future regional YMCA to SayeBrook, a 730-acre master-planned community in Myrtle Beach.

The facility will be located at the intersection of Sheffield Parkway and Highway 544, creating a centrally located destination that will serve residents of SayeBrook and families throughout the Highway 544 corridor, Socastee, The Market Common district and the southern Grand Strand, according to a news release.

The facility will offer opportunities centered on youth development, healthy living and community connection. The project is in its early planning stages. Before finalizing plans, the YMCA of Coastal Carolina will conduct research to better understand the area’s needs related to recreation, wellness, services for children and families and community resources, the release stated. Those findings will help shape the facility’s amenities, offerings and programming.

“From the beginning, SayeBrook has been envisioned as a place where people can embrace the coastal lifestyle in a community that encourages time spent outdoors, meaningful connections and an overall sense of wellness,” Derek Harris, vice president of development for The Jackson Companies, said in the release. “Partnering with the YMCA is a natural extension of that vision. We’re proud to provide the site for a future regional YMCA that will serve families throughout the southern Grand Strand for generations to come.”

This partnership reflects a philosophy that has guided the Jackson family for decades, the release said.

“Our parents believed that the most important investments were in people,” the Jackson family said in a joint statement. “Everything they created was meant to bring people together and strengthen the community they loved. Partnering with the YMCA continues their legacy by establishing a place along the South Strand where families can build relationships, grow together and make lasting memories.”

David Byrd, president and CEO of the YMCA of Coastal Carolina, said the new facility is part of the organization’s Vision 2030 expansion plans.

“This new YMCA center is part of our Vision 2030 expansion plans, which will add needed access to healthy living and youth development programs as well as services to improve the lives of the locals who live here in our community,” Byrd said in the release.

Additional project details, including fundraising initiatives, will be announced as planning progresses.

Founded by Nelson and Mary Emily Jackson, The Jackson Companies is a family-owned organization dedicated to creating places where people connect, build relationships and make memories, the release said. For generations, the company has helped shape the Grand Strand through some of the region’s most recognizable destinations, including Ocean Lakes Family Campground, Prestwick Country Club and other landmark properties.

SayeBrook is a 730-acre master-planned community featuring Lowcountry-inspired homes. At its heart is a Town Center intended to foster connection, promote wellness and provide everyday conveniences while serving as a destination for residents and visitors from across the Grand Strand.

The YMCA of Coastal Carolina is a nonprofit organization dedicated to putting Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.  It serves Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties.