YMCA Unveils Plan to Transform Peninsula Family YMCA into Community Well-Being Center
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Nov. 10, 2026 – Two years after San Mateo County became the first county in the nation to declare loneliness a public health crisis, YMCA of Greater San Francisco today announced Reimagine Peninsula, a $6.7 million initiative to transform the 100-year-old Peninsula Family YMCA as a hub for connection, belonging and whole-person health. Through purpose-driven spaces and new and expanded programs and services, the initiative will create more opportunities for people of all ages in San Mateo County to build relationships, access support, and feel connected to their community.
Reimagine Peninsula builds on the YMCA’s longstanding role as a community anchor, recognizing that well-being is shaped not only by health care, but also by the relationships, social connections and sense of purpose people develop in their everyday lives. For generations, the Peninsula Family YMCA, located at 1877 South Grant Street in San Mateo, has brought people together through programs and shared experiences. The initiative will build on that foundation, strengthening the Y’s role as a place where people can connect with others, access support, and participate in a healthier, more connected community.
“The strength of the YMCA has always been its ability to bring people together through shared experiences, whether that’s youth sports and camps, early childhood education, wellness programs or community events,” said Jamie Bruning-Miles, president and CEO of YMCA of Greater San Francisco. “Community well-being starts with human connection. When people have meaningful relationships, feel they belong and opportunities to engage with others, they have a strong foundation for health and well-being. Reimagine Peninsula will help us build on that foundation, creating more opportunities for individuals, families and the broader community to connect and thrive.”
Designed for Connection and Belonging
While the Peninsula Family YMCA will continue to offer the fitness, aquatics, childcare, youth development and family programs that have served the community for decades, the reimagined facility will introduce spaces intentionally designed to help people connect and engage with one another.
Design plans include:
- A warm, inviting community space, designed to foster interaction amongst generations
- Outdoor wellness areas that support health, recreation and connection for everyone in the community
- Modernized spaces for youth development programs and Y Kids
- Wellness spaces that support fitness, classes, events, workshops and community activities
- Expanded financial assistance so cost is not a barrier
These reimagined spaces will open the door for the Peninsula Family YMCA to increase services and enhance programs specific to community connection and preventative health, including an expansion of Community as Medicine cohorts, diabetes prevention and brain health programs, and mental health services. It will open doors to expanding existing health partnerships, such as ones with Open Source Wellness and the Peninsula Health Care District, as well as forge new partnerships. Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2027.
Why the Need for a Community Well-Being Center?
In 2024, San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa championed a resolution to declare loneliness a public health crisis, becoming the first county in the nation to do so. This followed findings that 45% of county residents reported experiencing loneliness and social isolation conditions increasingly linked to poorer physical and mental health outcomes.
The crisis in San Mateo County is felt throughout the country. Public health experts, most notably U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy as well as the Center for Disease Control have increasingly linked social disconnection to a range of serious health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, heart disease, cognitive decline and premature mortality. In his 2023 advisory, Dr. Murthy called for greater investment in local social infrastructure, emphasizing the need for places where people can gather, build relationships, participate in activities, and engage across generations.
“When San Mateo County became the first county in the nation to declare loneliness a public health crisis, we sent a clear message: connection matters to our health,” said San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa. “We need places where people can come together, build friendships and feel part of something bigger than themselves. By transforming the Peninsula Family YMCA into a place for people of all ages to connect and support one another, the YMCA of Greater San Francisco is helping address loneliness and building a healthier, more connected community.”
We Asked, San Mateo County Answered
To better understand how these national and local trends were affecting San Mateo County residents, the YMCA of Greater San Francisco commissioned a community research survey in 2025 to help shape the future of the Peninsula Family YMCA.
The research found strong interest in experiences that go beyond traditional fitness. Healthy lifestyle groups and workshops generated a 63% net positive interest score, while community social groups generated 61%, brain health and dementia prevention programs 60%, and welcoming community gather spaces 53%. The findings reinforced the opportunity to create a YMCA experience that brings together physical health, social connection, preventative wellness, and belonging.
The research also highlighted how needs vary across generations. Adults ages 35-44 showed particularly strong interest in family engagement, youth activities, and community social groups, while adults 55 and older showed the greatest interest in brain health and dementia prevention.
Those insights helped shape both the physical transformation of the Peninsula Family YMCA and the programs and services planned for the future.
Building the Future Together
The initiative is supported by a transformational $5.2 million commitment from the Frederick W. Petri Foundation, providing significant momentum toward the project’s $6.7 million goal. The YMCA is inviting community members, businesses and philanthropic partners to help raise the remaining funds needed to bring the full vision to life.
The campaign represents an investment not only in a building, but in the long-term health and well-being of the San Mateo County community.
Join the Reimagine Peninsula Effort
The YMCA of Greater San Francisco invites residents, community leaders, businesses and philanthropic partners to join the effort to bring Reimagine Peninsula to life. To learn more about the project, view renderings and contribute/donate, visit Reimagine the Peninsula Family YMCA: A New Vision. Together, the community can help create a lasting resource for connection, belonging and whole-person health in San Mateo County.
About YMCA of Greater San Francisco
The YMCA of Greater San Francisco strengthens community well-being by creating spaces and opportunities where people of all ages can be authentic, belong in community, and become their best selves. For nearly 175 years, the Y has evolved alongside the people it serves: listening, partnering, and co-creating to help individuals and families live longer, healthier, and more purposeful lives. With more than 130 locations in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties, including 15 core branches and an overnight camp, the YMCA of Greater San Francisco is one of the Bay Area’s largest community-based organizations. Each year, it serves 130,000 people through youth development, early childhood education, healthy aging, community connection, and essential support services.
