ASHLAND — The MetroWest YMCA officially broke ground Friday on a new Regional Early Learning Center, marking the first phase of the future Team Hoyt Community YMCA planned for Memorial Drive. 

The town was happily overwhelmed as more than 75 supporters, elected officials, community leaders, donors and members of the Hoyt family gathered at the site to celebrate the milestone, which comes after years of planning and fundraising.

The early learning center is expected to serve more than 100 children and families when it opens in September 2027. MetroWest YMCA officials say the facility will help address the growing demand for affordable and accessible child care and early education across the MetroWest region. Affordable and accessible child care and education are vital for the younger generation, and the YMCA has always prioritized just that. 

“This groundbreaking represents much more than the start of construction,” said MetroWest YMCA President and CEO Rick MacPherson. “It is the beginning of a new chapter for children, families and communities across MetroWest.” Not only is this a new chapter, but it is an exciting one as more opportunities will arise for children and families. 

The future Team Hoyt Community YMCA is named in honor of Dick, Rick and Judy Hoyt, whose commitment to inclusion and perseverance inspired people around the world. The planned YMCA campus will be built on 12.5 acres along the Boston Marathon route and is intended to reflect the Hoyt family's belief that everyone should have the opportunity to participate, belong and reach their full potential.

“Seeing construction begin on this future Team Hoyt Community YMCA is an inspiring milestone for our family,” said Russ Hoyt. “We are excited about the impact this community pillar will have on people of all abilities for generations to come.”

The ceremony also highlighted the partnerships that helped advance the project, including a previously announced $5 million federal funding award for the Regional Early Learning Center. The project has also received support from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Town of Ashland, and a number of corporate, foundation and individual donors.

Sen. Markey celebrates the construction with Team Hoyt members. Photo supplied by Michael Henrich

Sen. Edward J. Markey, who helped secure the federal funding, said the investment will help expand access to early education and child care for families throughout the region. “Every dollar we invest in education pays dividends for generations to come,” Markey said. “At a moment when families across Massachusetts need greater access to affordable, high-quality childcare and early education, I am grateful to have partnered with Senator Warren, Congressman McGovern, and our state and local partners to make this center a reality and create opportunities for children throughout MetroWest to learn, grow, and thrive.”

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern said the center will support working families while providing children with a strong educational foundation. “It is especially meaningful that this center honors Team Hoyt, whose story continues to inspire people across Massachusetts and beyond,” McGovern said.

Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka called the project an important investment in children, families and the future of MetroWest communities. Access to quality early education gives children a strong foundation for learning while helping parents balance work and family responsibilities. The new center is expected to expand child care options in the region and support families facing a shortage of affordable early education programs.

MetroWest YMCA officials said the future Team Hoyt Community YMCA is being designed to serve residents of Ashland, Framingham, Hopkinton, Holliston and Sherborn. They described the groundbreaking as the result of years of work by staff, volunteers, donors and community partners.

“As the need for affordable, accessible early education continues to grow, this Early Learning Center will help provide families with the strong foundation they need,” MacPherson said. “Our work creating a more connected community is just beginning.”

The center’s mission includes a full-day early learning center and a state-of-the-art wellness center, indoor running track, outdoor trails, group exercise studios, meeting and gathering spaces, STEM and technology areas for youth, child watch/ kids adventure space, full-size gymnasium, community kitchen, aquatics center, and an outdoor recreation space.

For more information about the Team Hoyt Community YMCA project, visit metrowestymca.org. About the MetroWest YMCA 

The MetroWest YMCA is a cause-driven nonprofit dedicated to creating healthier, connected communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. The MetroWest YMCA provides inclusive programming that strengthens the body, mind, and spirit of more than 25,000 community members annually at every stage of life—including early learning and childcare, before- and after-school programs, summer camps, fitness and wellness classes, aquatics, sports, enrichment activities, and health intervention programs. Eliminating financial barriers to engagement, the MetroWest YMCA (EIN 04-2281530) ensures everyone in the community has the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive. Visit metrowestymca.org for more information.