On Thursday, May 18, Hardeeville City Council approved the creation of the city’s first YMCA with a tentative opening of January 2025.

The master plan details a 19.9 acre facility off of East Argent Parkway near 170 behind Pistol Jo’s Cherry Point Chicken and BBQ.

The site will consist of two buildings, a 35,000 square foot building will feature a fitness and child care centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, an aerobics studio and a cafe. The second 18,400 square foot building will house a basketball gym, according to Beaufort-Jasper YMCA CEO Micheal Bostwick.

Also included will be a water park, nature trail and 2.35 acres of sports fields.

The site’s plan states 63% of the space will remain open space.

The East Argent project was announced in 2017 and touted as the largest planned development in Hardeeville history. The development has plans to add nearly 10,000 homes and apartments, 1.5 million square feet of retail and office space and 1,330 acres of passive and recreational park space.

Once all of the proposed homes are built, the population of the city could see a drastic increase from more than 8,500 residents from the most recent census report to more than 20,000 by 2030. Completion of the development is expected to take 15-20 years, according to Hardeeville Mayor, Harry Williams.

Jack Fisher, CEO and founder of Preserve Communities, donated 20 acres from the East Argent development to Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry for the project. Fisher established foundation to honor his late son’s passions. The new YMCA will be named for James.

Currently the only YMCA serving the Beaufort-Jasper area, is in Port Royal.