The Bremerton Family YMCA’s story began in 1911, when the Y first started serving local families, service members, and neighbors. Originally an Armed Services YMCA, the Bremerton Y was located downtown, near the place where the Bremerton ferry terminal stands today.
Since then, the Y has grown alongside the city, adapting to meet changing community needs while staying rooted in the same purpose: helping people connect, stay active, and find support close to home.
Growing With the Community
In 1985, the Bremerton Armed Services YMCA partnered with the City of Bremerton to build the facility members know today. The current Bremerton Family YMCA opened its doors in 1986 and has served the community from that location ever since.
A new chapter began in 2010, when the Bremerton Y merged with the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties. That partnership gave Bremerton families access to additional YMCA locations across the two counties and helped strengthen the Y’s ability to serve families throughout the region.
That same year, the City of Bremerton was considering closing the Glenn Jarstad Aquatic Center, built in 1978 and located right next to the Bremerton Y. The two facilities literally share a wall. When the city asked the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties to take over the operations, the Y agreed.
In August of 2010, the city pool became a YMCA pool in just 10 days.
For members, it was a significant change. The transition meant expanded pool access, more swim opportunities, and additional programs for people of all ages.
Serving Bremerton Today
Today, the Bremerton community continues to grow, and the Y is growing with it.
Between the Bremerton Family YMCA and Marina Square Express Y, membership continues to climb. The Marina Square location has helped deepen the Y’s connection with downtown Bremerton, where nearby businesses, restaurants, and community gathering spaces are bringing more energy and foot traffic to the area.
At the same time, the Bremerton Y continues to offer programs that support health, confidence, and connection at every age. Summer day camp is filling the building with kids, counselors, games, and activities. New adult classes, including Introduction to Weight Training and Introduction to Power Lifting, are creating more opportunities for members to build strength and try something new.
Looking Ahead
The next chapter of the YMCA in Bremerton is already taking shape.
Thanks to a $6.2 million federal grant secured with support from Senator Patty Murray, the YMCA is working toward a new Early Learning Center in Bremerton. The future center is designed to support working families and employees at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, serving children from four weeks through pre-kindergarten while also bringing new jobs to the community.
While a new YMCA facility is still a future project, conversations with community leaders have continued, including the possibility of a shared campus with Kitsap Regional Library.
For now, the Bremerton Family YMCA continues to do what it has done for 115 years: welcome people in, respond to community needs, and create spaces where families, neighbors, and partners can come together.