Over the summer, First Coast YMCA announced that it would be opening a branch next to the future Flagler Health+ hospital within Durbin Park. And last week, it announced the branch’s name: the Peyton Family YMCA.
The new facility will be named in honor of the Peyton family, who contributed to its $7 million capital fundraising campaign and who is best known for its association with locally-based Gate Petroleum. Herbert H. Peyton founded the company in 1960, and John Peyton currently serves as its president. The company’s development-centric offshoot is developing Durbin Park in collaboration with Gatlin Development Co.
“It is an honor to partner with the YMCA at its new branch in Durbin Park,” said Peyton. “Our charitable focus is to nurture and protect the well-being of families and the community, which perfectly aligns with the work of the Y. We look forward to the positive impacts this branch will have in St. Johns County and the surrounding area.”
The Durbin Park branch is expected to be about 50,000 square feet and will feature an “airnasium,” outdoor fitness amenities, indoor and outdoor aquatics, a Teen Center, KidZone, group exercise studios, and a wellness center with strength and cardio equipment.
“We are excited to establish an enduring legacy for the Peyton family through the Ys presence and service in Durbin Park,” said Eric K. Mann, president and CEO of First Coast YMCA. “This gift marks the start of our fundraising effort for this new Y. We need the community’s support to ensure we make good on the promise of building a stronger and healthier St. Johns County.”
The Peyton Family YMCA is expected to begin construction in 2022 and should debut by late 2023.
