WESTPORT — After celebrating its centennial last year, the Westport Weston Family YMCA on Saturday will mark a much more abbreviated  benchmark, but significant nonetheless.

The YMCA’s Bedford Family Center, built to replace its 90-year-old facilities in the heart of downtown, officially turned 10 years old in August, an event that will be celebrated with a “Making Magic Happen” gathering from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Y, 14 Allen Raymond Lane.

The event, featuring games, crafts, bounce houses, a magician and refreshments, also will pay tribute to “those who contributed tirelessly to the success of what the Westport Weston Family YMCA is today,” according to the Y’s announcement.

The Bedford Center, named in honor of E.T. Bedford, the local YMCA founder, opened in 2014 after years of controversy and litigation had engulfed the proposed relocation from its historic home at Main Street and Post Road East, the site today of the Bedford Square commercial complex.

The move to the Y’s 32-acre Mahackeno campus, longtime home of its summer camp, prompted opposition primarily based on expected adverse impacts on the environment and traffic.

But after opponents gave up the fight, work commenced on the 54,000-square-foot Bedford Family Center with a price tag of nearly $40 million. 

Today, the center serves the town-capped membership total of about 12,500 with a diverse catalogue of athletic, social and community activities. It was expanded in 2019 to accommodate more programs.

Acknowledging the decade-long travails the YMCA encountered winning approval to move from downtown and to build its new home, Rosemary Halstead, a trustee and former Board of Directors president, said in a statement, “While we had no idea the process would take 10 years, we wouldn’t hesitate to do it all over again.”

Reflecting on that process, she said, “Looking back, one thing was clear: We needed a new facility. While the old Y held so much history, it had long since passed its prime …

“We faced countless town board meetings, state agencies, court trials and the daunting task of selling our downtown property. Through it all, we had three CEOs and numerous internal committee meetings to guide us. What many people may not realize is how close we came to giving up on the dream,” Halstead said.

“It took a leap of faith for the directors and trustees to unanimously vote to move forward, even when we weren’t sure how we’d fund the project. It also took thousands of hours from our dedicated staff, volunteers and supporters, who refused to imagine Westport without the Y. 

“Now, 10 years later, the Y is thriving … I often hear, ‘Thank you for fighting the good fight, the Y is fabulous.’ Indeed, it is,” Halstead added.

In the same YMCA statement, Juliane Sunderland, current Board of Directors president, said, “This milestone is a testament to the unwavering dedication and commitment of our community. Ten years ago, we transformed a vision into reality, moving 90 years of history in downtown Westport to a vibrant space that has become the new cornerstone for families along the Saugatuck River.”

For questions, call the Westport Weston Family YMCA at 203-226-8981.