By JAMES BUESCHER, Correspondent
Intelligencer Journal

Published: Sep 05, 2007 1:45 AM EST

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - A $10 million to $12 million project to bring a YMCA to West Lampeter Township took another step closer to becoming reality Aug. 27 when Lampeter-Strasburg Recreation Commission announced it had named an architect to design the building.

According to recreation commission chairman Geoff Beers, the commission will work with Cornerstone Design Architects of Lancaster to come up with a preliminary design. The design will be shared with the public during the Lampeter Fair, which runs Sept. 26-28.

To be built on land in Village Park off of Village Road in Lampeter, the recreation center will offer activities such as youth basketball, swimming and activities for seniors. According to published reports, community leaders hope the facility will open to the public by spring 2009.

Cornerstone said it could not release the amount being spent on its services without permission from the YMCA. However, a representative from the YMCA would not release the amount.

Beers said members of the recreation commission heard presentations from several architects concerning a design but decided to go with Cornerstone because the firm "seemed like such a good fit."

"We were impressed by their experience, and they seem to have a pretty good idea of what we're trying to accomplish," Beers said. "And it also impressed us that they've done such a good design job when they were working on the YMCA located on Harrisburg Pike."

The goal, Beers said, is to break ground on the project by April 2008.

For more information on the YMCA, or on any of the recreation commission's fall activities, call 464-5110.http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/209015